HB82 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kirk HatcherSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Student athletes, fair pay to play

Summary

HB 82 would let Alabama college athletes earn compensation for their name, image, or likeness, bar schools and athletic bodies from blocking that pay, and require schools to create an injury and wage fund funded by ticket revenue.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would prevent postsecondary institutions and athletic groups from stopping a student-athlete from earning money or obtaining professional representation related to NIL. It would also bar compensation to prospective students and require disclosures if a contract conflicts with a team contract. Additionally, it would mandate the creation of an athlete injury and wage fund funded by 15% of ticket revenue, split into an injury savings account used for career-ending injuries and a wage account distributed equally among student-athletes each year, with rules set by the Department of Education; these provisions take effect January 1, 2023.

Who It Affects

• Student-athletes at Alabama colleges and universities: may earn compensation for NIL, obtain licensed professional representation, and receive participation-related protections (e.g., scholarships not revoked due to NIL income). They may also receive equal annual wage distributions and potential compensation for career-ending injuries after graduation.
• Postsecondary institutions and athletic associations/groups in Alabama: must allow NIL compensation, prohibit conflicting restrictions, create and fund the athlete injury and wage fund (with 15% of ticket revenue), and implement the required procedures and rules for injury-related compensation.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits institutions and athletic associations from preventing student-athletes from earning compensation for NIL or from obtaining state-licensed professional representation.
• Prohibits restricting a student-athlete’s participation in intercollegiate athletics because of NIL compensation and bars compensation to prospective students related to NIL.
• Requires professional representation to be from state-licensed individuals and prohibits scholarship revocation due to NIL income or legal representation.
• Forbids contract provisions that conflict with a student-athlete’s team contract and restricts team contracts from limiting NIL use for commercial purposes for contracts entered after January 1, 2023.
• Requires each institution with an athletic program to establish an Athlete Injury and Wage Fund funded by 15% of ticket revenue, split into an Injury Health Savings Account and an Athlete Wage Account.
• Injury account: provides compensation to athletes with career-ending or long-term injuries upon graduation, verified by an independent health provider; amount determined by the Department of Education.
• Wage account: annually distributes the deposited funds equally among all student-athletes who attended the institution that academic year.
• Effective date: these provisions become operative January 1, 2023.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Student Athletes