Gov. Kemp signs bill allowing Georgia college athletes to make money off their image

ATLANTA — Thursday is a big day for college athletes in Georgia.

Governor Kemp signed a bill into law allowing them to make money off their image. It’s called the Name, Image, Likeness Bill or HB 617.

It protects student athletes from being punished if they make any sort of profit off themselves.

Here’s the summary of the bill:

“A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to postsecondary education, so as to provide that student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletic programs at postsecondary educational institutions may receive compensation for the use of the student athlete’s name, image, or likeness; to provide for application to intercollegiate athletic associations; to allow for professional representation of such student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics; to provide for findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.”

The law takes effect January 1.

The bipartisan bill was sponsored by: Rep. Charles Martin [R], Rep. Trey Rhodes [R], Rep. Barry Fleming [R], Rep. Calvin Smyre [D], Rep. Philip Singleton [R] and Sen. Bill Cowsert [R].

READ THE FULL BILL HERE.

Other states have passed similar laws allowing college athletes to earn money for use of their name, image or likeness.

The NCAA’s attempts to reform its bylaws and permit college athletes to capitalize on their names, images and likenesses have stalled. Federal legislation on the issue is pending in Congress. But states, frustrated with inaction, have started passing their own laws. Florida and Mississippi laws authorizing student athletes to make money off their name, image or likeness take effect July 1, though Florida’s provision may be delayed another year.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Cox Media Group