The College Athlete Economic Freedom Act would establish a federal right for college athletes to earn money from their name, image, and likeness without interference from schools or athletic conferences. The bill prevents colleges and athletic associations from blocking athletes from making deals with third parties, restricts schools from working together to limit athlete compensation, and protects athletes' ability to hire agents and legal representatives. Schools must treat athletes equitably in supporting these opportunities regardless of gender, race, or sport, and cannot punish athletes for receiving endorsement income by reducing scholarships or eligibility. The legislation also extends these rights to international students on athletic visas and requires institutional collectives that manage athlete endorsement deals to register with the Federal Trade Commission and annually report how many deals they facilitate, broken down by athlete demographics and sport. Enforcement would occur through the Federal Trade Commission, which can pursue violations as unfair business practices, and individual athletes can sue in federal court for damages and legal fees. The bill authorizes unspecified federal funding for analyzing and tracking how much athletes earn from marketing their names and images.
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