"I think the benefit for this would be some of the smaller communities that have student-athletes that are known locally," he said. "I think women's athletics has a great opportunity to benefit from this."
A proposal by House Democratic Minority Leader Kionne McGhee is modeled after one signed into law last month by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The NCAA had opposed the California law -- the first of its kind -- saying it would muddle the lines separating big-money professional sports and amateur college athletics.
The NCAA may have to reconsider its stance as a growing number of states consider similar measures.
Florida has several high-marquee sports programs at the University of Florida, the University of Miami and the Florida State University.
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