A bill of rights for student athletes

OLYMPIA – Because billions of dollars are made off student athletes and coaches make millions off these deals, according to Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, he is proposing a bill allowing student athletes to have more of a say in the process.

The “Student Athlete Bill of Rights” would exempt colleges from being subject to conditions set by outside organizations and associations on student athletic scholarships.

“When it comes to higher education, we should be empowering college athletes in setting the conditions of their college scholarships,” Jacobsen said. “We shouldn’t be allowing outside organizations and associations to dictate the rules and policies for our students.”

Jacobsen is the main sponsor of Senate Bill 5571, which provides that an institution of higher education cannot agree or be subject to the rules or policies of any organization, association or outside entity setting the terms, value and conditions of student athlete scholarships. Highlights of the measure include:

• Outside entities cannot set scholarship terms below the actual costs of attending school;
• Student athletes can transfer to other colleges if the head coach leaves the school;
• Student athletes may keep money earned from employment not associated with their sport; and
• Colleges and student athletes would not be penalized or sanctioned for the violation of a rule that was committed by another student athlete.

“We should be following the practices of minor league baseball, which sets aside a certain amount of money for education. It would only be sensible to do the same for our student athletes and allow them to earn a salary and an educational fund,” Jacobsen said.

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