The College Sports Act for Fairness, Accountability and Integrity (FAIR), a discussion draft for a bill that would create a federal regulatory name, image and likeness (NIL) committee, was disclosed yesterday by CBS Sports, according to Rep.
Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida). The new regulatory body would be named the U.S. Intercollegiate Athletics Commission (USIAC), and it would supersede current and future state-level NIL acts, a limitation that the NCAA is currently requesting Congress to address.
Bilirakis is part of the House of Representative’s Energy and Commerce group and serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce, which held two hearings on NIL. A preliminary draft is the next public stage in the legislative process.
The proposed legislation would not cover healthcare or medical benefits, employee classification of participants, or liability breaks for institutions or the NCAA. Such protections would be beyond the remit of the body, according to congressional aides.
The new regulatory agency would be responsible for overseeing NIL, conducting scientific research, and providing guidance to college athletes and other interested parties on the NIL process. It would create rules, implement them, and enforce NCAA-related legislation, including limiting the players’ ability to join boosters, organisations, or other third parties.
The legislation aims to defend athletes’ rights to earn NIL remuneration and sign contracts with agents. Current NCAA legislation provides a limited range of NIL perks and enables athletes to work with agents exclusively for NIL marketing programmes.
The law will require all agents, boosters, and organisations to enrol 30 days after signing an NIL agreement. The commission’s board of directors will be appointed by congressional leaders, and it will comprise student-athletes and various conference and NCAA division leaders. The board would vote on the appointment of an executive director. The commission would streamline NIL deals without affecting student-athlete compensation.
Violators of the Act will be “adequately reprimanded” by the federal body. Meanwhile, “established entities,” such as state attorneys general, remain in charge of enforcing the NCAA legislation, which also covers athlete wrongdoing.
In conclusion, Bilirakis said, “Our goal is to ensure that NIL deals are transparent and fair, while protecting the integrity of college athletics. It is Congress’ responsibility to establish a clear set of rules so our young people are protected, opportunities for them are promoted, and amateur sports of all kinds are preserved.”
Additionally, the subcommittee conducted two bipartisan hearings in September 2021 and late March of this year. The legislature will soon receive feedback from stakeholders on this article.