'A whole new age': Oklahoma NIL bill passes, would let college athletes earn compensation
Ed GodfreyOklahoman
College athletes in Oklahoma would be able to hire an agent and earn money beginning this summer if Gov. Kevin Stitt gives final approval to legislation that cleared the Oklahoma Legislature on Tuesday.
Sixteen other states have already passed similar bills to allow college athletes to receive financial compensation on their names, images or likenesses, something for decades that had been prohibited by the NCAA.
State lawmakers hurried to the pass the bill before the legislative session ended, said Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, who carried the legislation in the state Senate where it passed last week before being approved by the state House of Representatives on Tuesday.
"There was definitely a sense of urgency," Daniels said. "We certainly didn't want to get to July and have any of our student-athletes accepting invitations to move to other schools because they (other states) had passed this."
Oklahoma would be the first state in the Big 12 Conference to pass the legislation into law, but both Kansas and Texas are considering it, Daniels said.
The bill would allow all college athletes in Oklahoma to earn money through endorsements, advertisements, personal appearances and sponsorship deals.
"They are certainly not being paid to play," Daniels said.
The NCAA is currently in the process of trying to amend its rules for financial compensation of athletes. The NCAA Division I Council hopes to act on legislative proposals next month that would allow athletes to be paid.
The council is expected to take up the issue June 22-23 with the goal of having legislation in place July 1. States have rushed to pass their own laws, however, because of the uncertainty.
The NCAA is currently involved in a U.S. Supreme Court antitrust case that could impact how student-athletes could be be compensated.
The U.S. Supreme Court in March heard arguments brought by athletes who say the NCAA's current rules are unfair and violate federal antitrust law designed to promote competition.
Daniels said representatives from both OU and OSU brought the language to her which created the Student Athlete Name, Image and Likeness Rights Act. It is similar to the rules that the NCAA is considering.
"Alabama, California and some others have already done this," Daniels said. "We didn't want to get to July and start seeing some of our athletes transfer, rightly so, if they couldn't earn an income while in college (in Oklahoma).
"The vast majority will not go on to play pro sports so it seems fair that they should be able to earn some income from their name, image and likeness while they are a student-athlete."
The legislation also provides protections for universities and colleges. Athletes must inform schools they have hired an agents.
They would not be permitted to use the school's logos in advertisements or marketing, or enter into any contract that would conflict with any school's contract.
A student-athlete also could not use any product that conflicts with a school’s policy or involves sports wagering or banned substances.
"I just think it will be a positive for our student-athletes," Daniels said of the legislation. "I think it will be especially positive for women athletes because they have fewer opportunities to play pro sports...It will be a whole new age."
The legislation passed 81-11 in the House on Tuesday and 43-3 in the Senate last week.
The bill is now awaiting the governor's signature or veto. Stitt declined to comment Tuesday on whether he will sign the legislation.
