(WSIL) -- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill Tuesday afternoon allowing student athletes in the state to be compensated for their name, image and likeness.
 allows athletes to earn money if their college or university uses their name, image, or likeness for profit.
“With this law, Illinois will lead the United States in giving student-athletes the opportunity to sign endorsement deals of their own, joining a growing coalition of states leading the fight for innovation in our modern collegiate sports system,â€Â said Governor JB Pritzker. “Let me be clear. Illinois is now at the forefront of this movement, yet another reason student-athletes should choose Illinois for college. Beginning July 1st, Illinois collegiate student athletes â€� no matter the sport and no matter the division â€� can take control of their destiny when it comes to their own name, image, likeness, and voice.â€�
The bill would prohibit college athletes from advertising certain products like alcohol or tobacco.
Under the Illinois law, student-athletes at both public and private universities would be allowed to hire an agents to represent them in endorsement deals, and schools would be able to set “reasonable limitations� on when athletes can participate in the newly allowed activities and whether the school’s logos, uniforms or name can be used.
Athletes also would be required to report their endorsement deals and other activities to their schools and endorsement deals can't be promised as a means to recruit athletes.
“As a former collegiate student athlete, this legislation is extremely personal to me, I am proud to see Governor Pritzker sign this bill to ensure student athletes are able to earn income from their likeness, name and image,â€Â said Representative Kam Buckner (D-Chicago). “This is the kind of tangible change we mean when we talk about equity, especially since many of these students come from underserved communities. This will directly help students and their families, which also makes it easier for them to stay in school and finish their degree.â€�
Illinois is the first in the Midwest to pass an endorsement bill. It joins more than a dozen other states, including Kentucky.
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Higher learning institutions, such as the Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý, are establishing programs to help students take advantage of this new law.
“This legislation establishes Illinois as a thought-leader in the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics by ushering in one of the most transformative changes to college sports we have seen in generations,â€Â said UIUC Athletics Director Josh Whitman. “The new NIL paradigm in our state will allow great freedoms to our student-athletes while upholding the core tenets and educational mission of our universities and our athletic programs. Our thanks to Governor Pritzker and our state’s lawmakers for their innovation, open-mindedness, and leadership in this exciting new area.â€�
The NCAA is set to vote on a proposal that would create similar rules for schools across the nation.
The new legislation applies to all student athletes and goes into effect on Thursday, July 1.
