College athletes in Kentucky now have more support when it comes to benefitting from their name, image, and likeness. At the state capitol, Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 6 into law surrounded by lawmakers and college administrators and coaches. Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman is a former college athlete and said she is thrilled for future athletes.
“For generations, student athletes worked and worked, but were never able to capitalize on the revenue they generate for their schools and communities. Last June we started to see that in Kentucky.”
The governor signed an executive order last June. Democratic Senator Morgan McGarvey says they needed to do more to help athletes.
“And then of course when the executive order was issued, we knew that we needed to put this in law. So, everyone knows that student athletes will have the rights to their own names, image, and likeness. These student athletes who work so hard at their sport, who can’t have another job while they’re at college have the ability to control their name, image, and likeness, to earn some extra money.”
The governor says this law will allow the state of Kentucky to compete for top athletes. The law passed both chambers of the legislature with ease.
