Enacts the student athlete bill of rights

1 Co-sponsor

• Marc Panepinto

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the student athlete bill of rights; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill seeks to codify the protections that student athletes should receive from the colleges and universities that they play for, within, and outside of the context of formally engaging in collegiate sports. These protections include adequate health care, and extended coverage for catastrophic injuries suffered while under the purview of an institution.

Furthermore if an athletic program does not renew an athletic scholarship of a student athlete who suffers an incapacitating injury or illness resulting from his or her participation in the athletic program, the institution of higher education shall provide an equivalent scholarship.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 establishes how the bill shall be known and cited.

Section 2 outlines legislature including educational needs, institutions' revenues, students' revenues, adequate health, medical expenses, due process protection, gender equity requirements, transferring, and usage of funds.

Section 3 describes adding a new section 679-h to the education law. This section provides protections for students receiving collegiate athletic scholarships, including the continuation of scholarship in the event of injury, an avenue for appeal should a student lose a scholarship, mandatory financial and life skills counseling for all first and third year students, and guidelines each school must adopt regarding sports-related concussions and dehydration.

Section 4 sets the effective date and the expiration date.

Justification

New York's institutions of higher education that participate in Division I and Division II intercollegiate athletics collectively generate millions of dollars annually in media contracts, and this revenue would not exist without the efforts of student athletes. Student athletes generate large revenues for many athletic programs, spend approximately forty hours per week participating in their respective sports, and suffer current and historically low graduation rates. Providing adequate health and safety protection for student athletes can help prevent serious injury and death.

Prior legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately and shell expire and be deemed repealed on June 30, 2027.