Preamble - Student Athlete Bill Of Rights - Education - CA

Section § 67450

This section highlights the importance of prioritizing the educational needs of student athletes within college sports programs. It emphasizes that student athletes contribute significantly to the financial success of higher education institutions through media revenues. Despite this, they often face low graduation rates and lack adequate health and safety protections, as well as legal protections equivalent to non-athlete students.

The statute stresses that student athletes should be safeguarded against punishment when transferring schools and should not incur out-of-pocket expenses for sports-related injuries. Additionally, it ensures compliance with federal gender equity laws and mandates that funds meant for the general student body should not be misused for athletics.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Meeting the educational needs of student athletes should be a priority for intercollegiate athletic programs.

(b) California’s institutions of higher education that participate in Division I and Division II intercollegiate athletics collectively generate millions of dollars annually in media contracts, and this revenue would not exist without the efforts of student athletes.

(c) Student athletes generate large revenues for many athletic programs, spend approximately 40 hours per week participating in their respective sports, and suffer current and historically low graduation rates.

(d) Providing adequate health and safety protection for student athletes can help prevent serious injury and death.

(e) Current and former student athletes can be left to pay for medical expenses incurred from injuries suffered while participating in intercollegiate athletics.

(f) Institutions of higher education should provide their student athletes with the same due process protection afforded to students who do not participate in athletics.

(g) Athletic programs in this state are subject to federal gender equity requirements under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.).

(h) An institution of higher education should not punish any student athlete for transferring to another institution of higher education.

(i) An institution of higher education should not use funds for purposes of this part that are dedicated for the benefit of the general student body.

student athletes intercollegiate athletics media contracts ...