(WSIL) � The NCAA Board of Governors has taken the first step toward allowing athletes to cash in on their fame. The NCAA’s top decision makers voted unanimously Tuesday to allow college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness "in a manner consistent with the collegiate model."
The vote came during a meeting at Emory University in Atlanta.
In a news release, board chair Michael V. Drake said the board realized that it "must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes."
The move comes after a pair of politicians proposed bills to make the NCAA’s current rules about endorsement deals illegal. Nancy Skinner, a democratic California state senator, wrote a bill that was signed into law in late September. That law will prohibit California schools from punishing their athletes for accepting endorsement money starting in January 2023.
The NCAA’s new rules should be implemented by January 2021.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, State Representative Chris Welch and State Senator Elgie Sims released the following joint statement regarding the decision:
It’s clear that student-athletes deserve to have rights in a billion-dollar industry they helped build. After advocating for our legislation in Illinois, the NCAA took a welcome � though overdue � step forward to allow students to be compensated for their names and likenesses. We remain committed to being the voice of student-athletes in Illinois and will monitor this decision to ensure it is fully implemented. Today is a victory for student-athletes around the country who are fighting for fairness and equity, and we will continue to fight alongside you.
The Associated Press and ESPN contributed to this report.
