California Legislators Say Their NIL Law Is Being Overlooked

There’s no need to wait on the House v. NCAA settlement: Universities in California can already directly compensate their athletes.

That's the clarion call of an open letter released Wednesday by California state Senators Nancy Skinner and Steven Bradford, the joint authors of the Fair Pay to Play Act, the nation's first NIL statute.

As part of bill, which was enacted in September 2019, California colleges can directly enter into NIL deals with their athletes and recruits, without the need for a third-party collective. However, that feature seems to have flown under the radar, according to the lawmakers. 

"We are … writing this letter because California colleges and universities do not appear to be maximizing this aspect of SB 206," Skinner and Bradford wrote. The letter was co-signed by Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National College Players Association, and antitrust economist Andy Schwarz, both of whom were driving forces behind the legislation.

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