Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is pushing for a proposed legislation in California that would allow college athletes to earn compensation for their name, image, or likeness.
The Fair Pay to Play Act was introduced by California State Senate Majority Whip Nancy Skinner. The California State Senate has already passed the proposed legislation by a vote of 31-4, and The California Assembly will reportedly take a closer look at the bill in the near future.
For James, who is a known advocate for college athletes getting paid, this is great news. The Lakers forward took to Twitter on Thursday to show his support:
Everyone is California- call your politicians and tell them to support SB 206! This law is a GAME CHANGER. College athletes can responsibly get paid for what they do and the billions they create.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 5, 2019
California can change the game. This is only right waaaayy overdue. #morethananathlete
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 5, 2019
We started this fight with our doc “Student Athlete” on HBO. Just getting started! 🙏🏾💪🏾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 5, 2019
Via Gregg E. Clifton of The National Law Review:
The proposed legislation (as discussed in our recent blog post on March 1, 2019) would prohibit a California public postsecondary educational institution, athletic association, conference, or any other organization with authority over intercollegiate athletics, from preventing student athletes from earning compensation in connection with the use of the student athlete’s name, image, or likeness. Specifically, any such compensation would no longer affect a student athlete’s scholarship eligibility. The proposed legislation would prohibit direct payments from schools to athletes and would become effective in 2023.
Many college athletes are just getting by, so to speak, while the schools they attend generate loads of cash for the games they participate in. Critics of this proposal would argue that a college degree is enough compensation, but supporters believe the athletes should be paid — even a small amount — for their services.