Connecticut Introduces New Student-Athlete Legislation

Connecticut continues to be on the cutting edge of NCAA student-athlete rights, again following in the footsteps of California.

In 2011, Connecticut followed California by passing the Student-Athletes’ Right to Know Act, which requires transparency in the recruiting process.

Last year, California passed the Student-Athletes’ Bill of Rights, which included a provision that would require universities to provide injured athletes with academic scholarships if their athletic scholarships were lost to injury.  The law only applies to universities that receive more than $10 million annually in sports media revenue.

Connecticut State Senator Martin M. Looney has introduced legislation that mirrors the provision of the Student-Athlete’s Bill of Rights mentioned above, and also provides for scholarships for student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility.

Here is the text for Proposed Bill 205:

AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

That title 10a of the general statutes be amended to require public institutions of higher education receiving, through media rights, revenue in an amount not less than five million dollars per year to use such revenue to provide academic scholarships to student athletes whose athletic scholarships are not renewed due to incapacitating injury or illness resulting from participation in the school athletic program or who have exhausted their National Collegiate Athletic Association athletic eligibility but are still in good academic standing and pursuing a degree.

Statement of Purpose:

To increase graduation rates of student athletes at public institutions of higher education.

Stay tuned for more coverage and analysis of this bill as it works its way through the General Assembly.