The Legislature is nearing a final vote on a bill that would allow the state’s universities to pay student athletes for promoting their schools.
An existing law lets students be paid for their name, image and likeness as used in promotions.
This new bill would let universities pay students directly, without them having to be employees.
The measure comes as a federal judge in California is nearing a final settlement in a suit against the NCAA, which blocked student athlete compensation for years.
While that settlement wouldn’t preclude Arizona’s universities from paying out, some say having legislation on the books will help keep the state competitive.
“If there were going to be states that were already going to put these proposals into place, we definitely didn't want to be at a disadvantage,” said Jamie Boggs, Grand Canyon University vice president of athletics.
The bill would go to Gov. Katie Hobbs’s desk if approved by the House.
