Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act Unanimously Passes the Senate!
Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act Unanimously Passes the Senate!
Starting in July 2021 student-athletes, and their likenesses, will be more protected thanks to the passage of the Jordan McNair Safe Play Act.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
BALTIMORE, MD (March 31, 2021 - Student-athletes in Maryland have now been empowered thanks to the unanimously passed Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Act that recently went before the Senate. The Act
helps to protect student-athletes by prohibiting institutions of higher learning from preventing a student-athlete from earning compensation on the utilization of their own name.
The Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act, named after the former University of Maryland offensive lineman who died in 2018 after suffering from heatstroke at a team workout, has passed on third reading in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate. The NCAA currently makes millions of dollars in revenue from collegiate sports, yet the life insurance policy value of each student-athlete is only worth $10,000. There are many poorly balanced components of the higher learning and student-athlete relationship and the Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act is one step in the right direction of student-athlete advocacy.
“We are so pleased to not only have had this Act passed but to have it passed unanimously. Higher learning institutions have profited from student-athletes for a long time. Even considering a full-ride scholarship, entitlement to one’s personal name or brand shouldn’t be an assumption from any school,” said Tonya L. Moore, publicist for the Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act.
Currently, student-athlete injuries within the college level are grotesque when compared to the profit margins of higher education institutions. 54 PERCENT of a student-athletes report they have played while injured. 37 PERCENT of high school athletes say they have experienced sprains. 12 PERCENT report they have sustained concussions and head injuries from their time on the field. And, prior to this Act, student-athletes were not able to profit from their own likeness, had limited life insurance protections, and had to navigate themselves from a competitive and hushed culture of unsafe athletic conditions, working through an injury, or not reporting injuries at all out of fear of retaliation.
"Despite the risk of injury, regardless of the money being generated off their work, the NCAA does not let these athletes receive compensation for the use of their own image or likeness. All these factors create an industry of exploitation resting on the backs of student-athletes. It is time for that to change, and I’m proud that the Maryland General Assembly is taking action this year.” said Delegate Brooke Leirman of Maryland.
Members of the media are encouraged to make themselves familiar with the Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Act. Further, interviews with Martin McNair, father of Jordan McNair and Founder of the Jordan McNair Foundation, are available upon qualified request. Mr. McNair is also available to provide specific insight as to his own journey with his son’s life and death within the college sports arena and what other preventive measures need to be in place to prevent further exploitation of college athletes.
The Jordan McNair Foundation Instagram
Media Contacts:
Tonya L. Moore
443.925.9220
tonya.moore@tlmpr.com