The saga regarding California’s ‘Fair Pay’ Bill is reaching critical mass. The NCAA and California seem set to square off over the bill as it makes its way through the state’s legislature with the NCAA strongly urging the state not to pass the measure. The NCAA has threatened to exclude all California member schools from participating in the organization if the bill is passed, but the state has yet to waver.
The NCAA warns that a California bill that would allow college athletes to be paid would be "unconstitutional" https://t.co/UCCeOthCrf
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) September 11, 2019
On Wednesday morning, NCAA President Mark Emmert and 21 others signed and sent a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom expressing their hope that Newsom would not sign the bill into law if it reached his desk. The letter to Emmert said:
“If the bill becomes law and California’s 58 NCAA schools are compelled to allow an unrestricted name, image and likeness scheme, it would erase the critical distinction between college and professional athletics and, because it gives those schools an unfair recruiting advantage, would result in them eventually being unable to compete in NCAA competitions.”
Earlier this year, Emmert and the NCAA claimed that California schools would be held out of sanctioned competitions if the bill were to pass, and the organization has not backed down.
However, the California State Assembly continues to push the bill through the legislative process with the ‘Fair Pay’ Bill being sent to the California State Senate after a 72-0 vote on Monday. The senate is expected to review the bill as early as this week, and it could be on Newsom’s desk by next week.
Or….because of this bill, you can work with everyone to create a national policy that is fair to the athletes. 🤷🏾♂️✊🏾👑https://t.co/Ey3lBzeB3v
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 11, 2019
LeBron James has been one of the bill’s most prominent supporters, repeatedly tweeting that he wants to see the bill passed into law. The bill would allow collegiate athletes the opportunity to make money off their name and image, and public opinion appears to be on the side of California. If the bill passes, it has the potential to completely reshape college athletics.
H/T Los Angeles Times
