Florida Name, Image and Likeness Bill Now Law

Paul Combs Tribune Content graphic

Florida wasn’t the first state to introduce legislation that would allow college athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness. It wasn’t the first to pass a bill on the subject, either.

But, according to The Tampa Bay Times,  when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state’s bill into law Friday at a ceremony at the University of Miami, it represented one of the biggest steps in a years-long nationwide movement to overhaul the NCAA’s amateur model.

Because the law takes effect July 1, 2021, about 18 months earlier than similar laws previously approved in California and Colorado, it puts pressure on a notoriously slow-moving organization to act quickly on the issue.

The state is leading carefully. The law does not allow players to be paid directly for their performances. Instead, it allows athletes to be compensated by third parties in other ways, such as through endorsements and sponsored social media posts.

DeSantis called it “a matter of fairness.” Why should college musicians be able to make money from their own YouTube channel while a college athlete cannot do something similar, he said.

The NCAA has long resisted changes to its model, which prohibits players from making money off their names while they’re playing for member schools. Former Hurricanes star linebacker Jonathan Vilma said during Friday’s ceremony that the NCAA has been “sitting back” for decades on the issue.

“The NCAA likes status quo,” Vilma said. “Unfortunately for them, the time has come. Fortunately for us, we have a governor in Gov. DeSantis that said, ‘We’re going to push the agenda, and we’re going to push it immediately, forcing the NCAA to act.’ ”

The NCAA took a step toward action in April when it announced its board of governors supported a plan that would let players monetize their name, image and likeness without losing eligibility. But its ideas conflict with Florida’s legislation on several fronts, including the role of advisers in endorsements and whether shoe companies should be sources of income for players.

The NCAA is expected to adopt new rules in January to take effect at the start of the 2021-22 academic year.