House General Laws Committee Considers Bills on Compensation for Student Athletes, Passes HB 2261
The House General Laws Committee, chaired by Rep. Dean Plocher (R-St. Louis), convened on Monday, Feb. 24, to consider Rep. Nick Schroer’s (R-O’Fallon) HB 1564 and Rep. Wes Rogers’ (D-St. Louis) HB 1792, both of which would prohibit public and private universities from establishing rules that prevent student athletes from earning compensation for their name, image, and likeness. The sponsors indicated that they plan to combine their bills through a committee substitute.
According to Rep. Schroer, the legislation would allow student athletes to be “compensated for their hard work off the field.” Committee members’ questions included whether the legislation should include a “fair market value” provision.
Supporters of the bills testified that college sports is a $14 billion industry and that student athletes see little of this revenue. No one spoke in opposition.
The committee also went into executive session to vote on HB 2261, Rep. Jonathan Patterson’s (R-Kansas City) “Show Me Child Savings Account Act.” Members voted a committee substitute out by a unanimous vote.
House Higher Education Committee Considers Personal Injury Insurance for Athletes
The House Higher Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Dean Dohrman (R-La Monte), convened the evening of Monday, Feb. 24, to hear Rep. Kevin Windham’s (D-St. Louis) HB 1644, which would require institutions to establish a personal injury or accidental death insurance program for their athletes. The legislation is based on a Nebraska law.
Committee members’ questions included whether students who learn they have an injury that was treated incorrectly after they leave the institution would have any recourse under the bill, as well as what level of insurance student athletes must have before they are allowed to participate in collegiate sports. Rep. Greg Razer (D-Kansas City) indicated that the concerns the bill is intended to address are another reason it is important to take a “hard look” at the NCAA.
A representative of the University of Missouri-Columbia spoke in opposition, testifying that currently student athletes must have some form of insurance and that the university continues to support student athletes for two years after they leave the school.
Missouri State University and the University of Central Missouri also spoke against the legislation.
House Subcommittee Amends the Education Budget
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the House Subcommittee on Appropriations for Education amended HB 2003, which is the budget bill that funds higher education.
Subcommittee members offered 18 amendments, 13 of which impact higher education and workforce development. The remaining pertained to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Recommendations from the subcommittee included reductions in the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant totaling $1.5 million in lottery funds and $700,000 in general revenue. Funding removed from Fast Track was added to the community college core, the Marguerite Ross Barnett Scholarship, independent living centers under DESE, and DESE's early literacy program.
$4.05 million was removed from HB 2002, DESE’s budget, to fund higher education and workforce development programs, including:
- A $1 million core increase to be divided among public universities
- $3 million for the community college core equity adjustment
- $50,000 to fund the Rightfully Sewn organization in Kansas City
Other considerations approved by the subcommittee included:
- Approval for MDHEWD to collect fees to implement a dual credit certification program
- Language capping Fast Track awards to students who attend private institutions, which will apply if general revenue is added to the program’s budget
- $50,000 reduction in the St. Louis computer training program to fund a similar program in Kansas City
- $50,000 reduction in the St. Louis computer training program to fund a pre-apprenticeship program for minority women in construction
House Special Committee on Career Readiness Hears 21st Century Missouri Education Task Force Bill
The House Special Committee on Career Readiness, chaired by Rep. Jason Chipman (R-Steelville), convened on Wednesday, Feb. 26, to consider HB 2387, Rep. Louis Riggs’ (R-Hannibal) legislation, which would establish the 21st Century Missouri Education Task Force. The task force would include members of the general assembly, other stakeholders including members of the business community, the Commissioner of Education, and the Commissioner of Higher Education.
The task force’s mission would include evaluating current educational processes and funding. It would make recommendations for legislation and submit a report summarizing its activities to the General Assembly before Aug. 28, 2021. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry spoke in favor of the legislation.
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