Protect the BALL Act of 2024

Education
house
senate
president

Introduced on May 8, 2024 by Russell Fry

Cosponsors

Legislation Details

  • Establishes a limitation on liability for institutions, intercollegiate athletic associations, or conferences regarding compensation restrictions for student athletes.
  • Defines “academic stipend” as a payment not exceeding $5,980 in any academic year made to a student athlete by an institution.
  • Specifies what constitutes “compensation,” including payments for licenses or use of name, image, and likeness rights, but excludes tuition, room, board, books, fees, personal expenses up to the full cost of attendance, Pell Grants, health insurance, disability and loss of value insurance, career counseling, job placement services, payment for work not related to athletics, and programs connecting student athletes with employment opportunities.
  • Limits the definition of “institution” to “institution of higher education” as defined in the Higher Education Act.
  • Clarifies that “student athlete” has the same meaning as in the Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act.
  • Defines “varsity sports team” as a team organized by an institution to compete at the highest level of intercollegiate competition, excluding intramural or club teams.
  • Describes “name, image, and likeness rights” as rights under Federal or State law allowing individuals to control and profit from the commercial use of their name, image, likeness, and persona.
  • States that institutions, intercollegiate athletic associations, or conferences shall not be in violation of any law or subject to any claims or liabilities for adopting, agreeing to, enforcing, or complying with rules that limit or prohibit compensation to student athletes, restrict eligibility for rule violations, or comply with agreements or rules under Federal law.

Last updated 8/17/2024