Model Legislation - Name, Image, Likeness Pay

The NCPA is working to get its model legislation to allow college athlete compensation for use of their name, image, and likeness signed into law in states nationwide.

October 1, 2019

Model Legislation - Name, Image, Likeness Pay

SECTION 1.  Declarations

1. The Legislature seeks to help ensure college athletes have equal rights and economic freedoms afforded to all students and residents in the state of ______________.

2. The Legislature recognizes the disproportionate negative impact that economic and legal restrictions have on African American and female college athletes.

3. The commercial exploitation of college athletes’ name, image, and likeness rights is not required for school-based athletics; it is an optional, lucrative activity for which college athletes should be fairly compensated by 3rd parties.

4. College sports is a $15 billion dollar industry with millionaire coaches and lucrative apparel deals that require college athletes to advertise for commercial interests.

5. Rules prohibiting college athlete compensation for use of name, image, and likeness rights, or athletics reputation do not bring forth competitive equity and cannot justify denying college athletes equal rights and economic freedom.

6. College athletes’ representation should be independent from athletics associations, athletic conferences, and colleges to avoid a conflict of interest.

SECTION 2. Definitions

“College athlete” means an individual that participates or participated in intercollegiate sport for a postsecondary educational institution located in the state.  An individual’s participation in a college intramural sport or in a professional sport outside of intercollegiate athletics does not apply.

“Athletic association” means an entity with athletics governance authority and is comprised of postsecondary educational institutions and athletic conferences.

“Athletic conference” means an entity and/or a collaboration of entities such as the autonomy conferences that has/have athletics governance authority, is a member of an athletic association, and has members comprised of and/or competes against postsecondary educational institutions.

“3rd party” means any individual or entity other than a postsecondary educational institution, athletic conference, or athletic association.

SECTION 3. Resolution

The state of ____________ requests that any federal legislation regarding this act respect and permit _____________ college athletes' rights, protections, and other provisions included in this legislation.

SECTION 4. Legislation

Part A.

1. A postsecondary educational institution shall not uphold any rule, requirement, standard, or other limitation that prevents a college athlete of that institution from fully participating in intercollegiate athletics without penalty for receiving food, shelter, medical expenses, or insurance from a 3rd party; or for earning compensation from a 3rd party as a result of the use of the college athlete’s name, image, or likeness rights, or athletic reputation. Earning compensation from the use of a college athlete’s name, image, or likeness rights, or athletic reputation shall not affect a college athlete’s grant-in-aid or stipend eligibility, amount, duration, or renewal.

2. For purposes of this section, a grant-in aid and/or a stipend from a postsecondary educational institution in which a college athlete is enrolled is not compensation for use of a college athlete’s name, image, and likeness rights, or athletic reputation; and a grant-in-aid or stipend shall not be revoked or reduced as a result of a college athlete earning compensation pursuant to this section.

3. A postsecondary educational institution shall not interfere with or prevent a college athlete from fully participating in intercollegiate athletics for obtaining representation unaffiliated with a postsecondary educational institution or its partners in relation to contracts or legal matters, including, but not limited to athlete agents, financial advisors, or legal representation provided by attorneys.

      A. An entity or individual that represents a postsecondary educational institution or has represented a postsecondary educational institution in the previous four years shall not represent a college athlete in any business agreement.

4. An entity that produces a college sports jersey, college team video game, and/or college team trading cards using the intellectual property of a postsecondary educational institution must make a royalty payment to each college athlete of that particular team as well as a premium royalty payment to each college athlete whose name, image, likeness, jersey number, or other individually identifiable feature is used.

5. A 3rd party shall not offer a college athlete a contract to provide compensation to the college athlete for use of the college athlete’s name, image, or likeness rights, or athletic reputation which requires a college athlete to advertise for the sponsor in person during official, mandatory team activities without approval from the college athlete's postsecondary educational institution.

      A. Postsecondary institutions of higher education cannot prohibit or discourage college athletes from wearing footwear of their choice during official, mandatory team activities so long as the footwear does not have reflective fabric, lights, or pose a health risk to a college athlete.

6. A postsecondary educational institution shall not prevent a college athlete from receiving 3rd party compensation for using the college athlete’s name, image, or likeness rights, or athletic reputation when the college athlete is not engaged in official team activities. Such restrictions may not exceed 20 hours per week during the season and 8 hours per week during the off-season.

7. A postsecondary educational institution shall not arrange 3rd party compensation for college athletes related to use of their name, image, or likeness rights or athletic reputation or use such deals as inducements to recruit prospective college athletes.  

Part B.

1. Postsecondary educational institutions that enter into commercial agreements that directly or indirectly require the use of a college athlete’s name, image, and likeness must conduct a financial development program of up to 15 hours in duration once per year.

           a. The financial development program cannot include any marketing, advertising, referral, or solicitation by providers of financial products or services.

2. College athlete attorney representation shall be by persons licensed by the state.

Part C.

1. This legislation shall apply only to contracts entered into, modified, or renewed on or after the enactment of this section.

2.  College athletes have the right to pursue private action against parties who violate this act through superior court, through a civil action for injunctive relief or money damages, or both.

  1. The court shall award court costs and reasonable reimbursement for attorneys’ fees to the prevailing plaintiffs in an action brought against a violator of this legislation.

3. College athletes and state or local prosecutors seeking to prosecute violators shall not be deprived of any protections provided under ______________ law with respect to a controversy that arises in ______________; shall have the right to adjudication in ______________ a claim that arises in ______________.

4.  The provisions of this chapter are severable.  If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

5.  Legal settlements cannot permit noncompliance with this act.

6. This chapter shall apply to any applicable agreement or contract newly entered into, renewed, modified, or extended on or after the earlier of July 1, 2021, the effective date of any similar NIL state or federal law, or the effective date of an athletic association or athletic conference NIL rule.  Such agreements or contracts include but are not limited to the National Letter of Intent, a college athlete’s financial aid agreement, commercial contracts, and athletic conference or athletic association rules or bylaws.