An Ohio State grad, Antani said the issue has been on his radar since he was a student and saw firsthand how athletes struggled to make ends meet while restricted on how they could make money.
“Not every student athlete has a scholarship and even for those that do, it may only cover their cost of attendance, leaving little left over for living expenses,” Antani said. “These college students should be able to benefit from their own name, image, and likeness. Most will not get endorsement deals from major shoe and apparel companies, but rather from their hometown businesses, such as an auto dealer or bookstore. My bill legalizes this in a safe and reasonable manner.”
If passed, the bill would go into effect July 1.
That is the day five other states have laws already set to go into effect, raising concerns about an uneven playing field.
Legislation is also being discussed at the federal level, and changes to NCAA rules have been discussed but so far not finalized or given final approval.
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