Illinois College Athletes Can Get Paid Thanks To New Law

CHAMPAIGN, IL — Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill Tuesday afternoon that will finally allow college athletes to hire their own agents, sign endorsement deals and profit from university advertisements.

The move comes a few weeks after a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed colleges and universities to offer athletes education-based benefits. The NCAA is set to vote Wednesday on a similar measure that would let student athletes brand themselves like professionals.

While the NCAA has historically fought against collegiate athletes' attempts to profit from the industry, dozens of states have now passed measures that would allow schools only a small amount of power over athlete's names.

Beginning July 1, student athletes of any division or sport will be granted the power to profit off of their image. Currently, student athletes are not considered employees of a university, though they bring can bring in billions of dollars for an institution.

"This bill is essentially about fairness," Rep. Kam Buckner said at a signing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "This gives the women's tennis player the opportunity to profit off of teaching lessons in her hometown over the summer. It gives the volleyball player the right to lend her image to the local pizzeria."

Athletes would be required to report their endorsement deals and other money-making ventures to their schools. Outside parties would be prohibited from using the promise of endorsement deals to recruit athletes to a school, but Pritzker said the measure would be a great recruiting method to draw athletes to Illinois schools.

If the new NCAA measure is approved, the proposal would protect student athletes regardless of whether their state has approved a similar policy.

Eva Rubin, a senior on U. of I's women's basketball team, said the bill would allow her to finally pursue and support a cause that is important to her.

"I'm a Type 1 diabetic and I've had to turn down opportunities to work with research organizations and others that support that community," Rubin said. "I can only imagine the opportunities that I will be able to pursue now to help me give back."