Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday his support of bills reforming the rules to allow college athletes to benefit from the use of their names, images and likeness.
DeSantis cited a few examples of how someone in the school band could post content to YouTube about their craft and make money off of it, or if a chemistry student could monetize their craft, it would also be allowed, but that student athletes are not afforded the same opportunity; something he says isn't right.
The bill he is referencing is HB 251, which would be effective on July 1, 2020 if it passes.
You can read the bill in its entirety here.
"When I look to see good policy ideas, California is usually not the first place I look, but I think California was on the right track saying that there needs to be reform to athletes being able to use at the collegiate level their name, image and likeness," DeSantis said.
He says that of course there will be issues that need to be addressed, but he is confident that they can be addressed in a way that will maintain college athletics as a special thing, but also allow student-athletes to benefit just like anyone else.
He hopes the decision will result in the NCAA re-evaluating its policy.
"I think the benefit of this would be for some of the smaller communities that may have student-athletes that are known locally and I think women's athletics has a great opportunity to benefit from this," the governor said. "At the end of the day it's about fairness, and student-athletes shouldn't be treated worse than anybody else."
