I have mixed emotions about this new type of legislation. I agree that student athletes need to be rewarded in some way. However, I am also afraid we are opening a bag of worms, that will not be controlable.
I'm with Don that I'm worried about unintended consequences. Everybody seems to agree that when a person's image or likeness is involved that person owns it and should be compensated when it is used. I don't think that in the normal course of business that very many student athletes would actually make any money from this, what I'm afraid of is that wealthy boosters will jump in and make deals that make no financial sense other than to get a highly recruited athlete to a University. I also worry that this is going to mess with team chemistry, when a few players are actually making money and the rest of them are not. I know some have advocated that the money go into some trust that they get when they graduate, but that makes no sense to me, it's their money. But it's coming, that ship has sailed it's just how the voyage will be is the question.
Next comes a base salary. Then collective bargaining. The actual classroom attendance will become optional. Think it can't happen? Well, we have men shaving their legs, putting on some makeup and competing and totally dominating women's sports. Did you ever think you would see that? Meanwhile.... Richard Burr Vows to Tax Scholarships of College Athletes Who 'Cash In' | Breitbart
So it looks like those car dealers who were paying football players under the table all these years can now just have them do commercials. Why play in South Bend or Lincoln when you can do big time commercials in LA or other media giants? (wonder why this started in Cal.?)