Pontiac Times

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain and Representative Janelle Bynum have introduced the College Student-athlete Protections and Opportunities through Rights, Transparency, and Safety (College SPORTS) Act. This bipartisan bill aims to establish national standards for college athletes to earn compensation from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), while also enhancing academic, health, and financial protections for collegiate athletics.

Chairwoman McClain emphasized the importance of allowing college athletes to benefit from the value they generate for their schools and athletic programs. "We’re protecting the values that make college athletics great while modernizing the system to reflect today’s reality," she said. She acknowledged Congresswoman Bynum's partnership in advancing this legislation.

Representative Bynum highlighted her personal connection to the issue as a parent of a Division 1 athlete. She stated, "I'm proud to be leading first-of-its-kind legislation alongside Chairwoman McClain." Bynum is committed to ensuring student athletes receive fair compensation, access quality education, care for sports-related injuries, and develop skills for post-college success.

The College SPORTS Act includes several key provisions:

- Codification of NIL rights allowing athletes to receive compensation without penalties from the NCAA or schools.

- Extended academic access enabling athletes to use scholarships up to ten years after leaving school.

- Health and life skills education mandates covering mental health, sexual violence prevention, nutrition, career preparation, NIL education among others.

- Medical protections requiring schools to cover sports-related injury costs for four years post-enrollment.

- Scholarship security preventing cancellations or reductions due to athletic performance or roster changes.

- Agent oversight through registration and disclosure requirements.

- Employment status maintaining student-athletes as non-employees of universities.

- Federal preemption creating a unified national standard over state laws.