Senator Parker Introduces Legislation Affording Student-Athletes Compensation

Brooklyn, N.Y.  — Sporting events have always been the pride of colleges and universities. Over the years, colleges have made huge profits from the sale of tickets and merchandise branded with the name of their star players. Sadly, students have never had the opportunity to receive any compensation from these revenue streams. New York State Senator Kevin Parker has a bill that would change this dynamic.

“It is unfair for students to struggle financially while their athletic ability is a source of income solely for the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the colleges and universities they attend,” said Senator Parker. “Receiving a scholarship should not be the basis to deny athletes further compensation especially when many of them come from traditionally marginalized and distressed Black and Brown communities where making ends meet is a day- to-day dilemma.” 

Senator Parker concluded, “This dynamic is exacerbated in a situation where a student-athlete with the potential to move his or her family from poverty to prosperity suddenly gets injured.  How does the family move on?  It is my hope that the New York Collegiate Compensation Act will remedy the longstanding shortcomings of the NCAA policy.”

The Senate Bill S.6722A, will allow New York student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their image, likeness and name without losing their scholarships. If signed into New York State law, Senator Parker’s legislation also directs 15 percent of the school’s entire sports revenue from tickets, merchandise, and investments to be evenly divided and distributed to student athletes while simultaneously creating a fund for injured players.

Senator Parker’s bill is the second “fair pay to play” type of legislation to be introduced in the country and he is anticipating and advocating other states to soon follow suit.

About Senator Kevin Parker:

Senator Kevin Parker represents Brooklyn’s ethnically diverse 21^st Senate District comprised of sections of Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope.  A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Senator Parker has the honor of serving his community as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, and on the Senate Standing Committees on Finance; Rules; Alcoholism & Substance Abuse; Insurance; and Banks.

For more information on Senator Parker, please visit www.nysenate.gov/senators/kevin-s-parker