S.Amdt. 6762

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Cassidy, aims to change the composition and duties of a Commission within bill S. 4668, which deals with student athlete protections and fair competition in intercollegiate athletics.

Changes to the Commission

• Membership: The amendment establishes a Commission of 40 members. These members are appointed by various Senate and House committee chairs and ranking members, the Senate majority and minority leaders, and the Speaker and minority leader of the House.
• Member Requirements: Members must be nationally recognized for their expertise in areas such as college athletics, sports law, labor law, athlete welfare, sports economics, health care, sports medicine, or university administration.
• Representation: The membership includes specific requirements for student athletes or former student athletes, representatives of mid-sized conferences (defined as those with less than $500,000,000 in annual revenue), and representatives of historically Black colleges or universities.
• Leadership: The Commission will have two co-chairs (one from the majority party and one from the minority party) who will appoint an executive director and staff.

Authority and Purpose

• Authority: The Commission is authorized to hold hearings, take testimony, and use subpoenas to produce documents and records, while maintaining the confidentiality of trade secrets.
• Duties: The primary duty of the Commission is to study and create recommendations for an alternative way to compensate student athletes. This includes looking at:
  • The effects of employment status and collective bargaining for athletes.
  • The legal and regulatory barriers to providing non-cash compensation, such as equity in an athletic program or team.