Education Code § 51.9246

Sec. 51.9246. COMPENSATION AND PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION OF STUDENT ATHLETES PARTICIPATING IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. (a) In this section: (1) "Athlete agent" has the meaning assigned by Section 2051.001, Occupations Code. (2) "General academic teaching institution" and "private or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. (3) "Honor code" means a set of rules or principles governing an academic community to which a student agrees to abide when attending an institution to which this section applies. (4) "Institutional contract" means a contract between an institution to which this section applies or its designated representative and an external party that includes a sponsorship agreement governing the use of the institution's trademarks in connection with athletics. (5) "Team contract" means a contract between a student athlete and an institution to which this section applies and includes any rules or expectations of the institution's athletic department or head coach that require a student athlete's compliance as a condition under the contract of participation as a member of the intercollegiate athletic program. (a-1) For purposes of this section, official team activities of an intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this section applies include any activity the institution designates as an official team activity. (b) This section applies only to: (1) a general academic teaching institution; or (2) a private or independent institution of higher education. (c) An institution to which this section applies may not adopt or enforce a policy, requirement, standard, or limitation that prohibits or otherwise prevents a student athlete participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at the institution from: (1) earning compensation for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness when the student athlete is not engaged in official team activities, as that term is defined by the institution; or (2) obtaining professional representation, including representation by an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, for contracts or other legal matters relating to the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness. (c-1) An athletic association, an athletic conference, or any other group or organization with authority over an intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this section applies may not enforce a contract term, a rule, a regulation, a standard, or any other requirement that prohibits the institution from participating in intercollegiate athletics or otherwise penalizes the institution or the institution's intercollegiate athletic program for performing, participating in, or allowing an activity required or authorized by this section. (c-2) This subsection applies only to the extent of a conflict between this section and a contract term, a rule, a regulation, a standard, or any other requirement of or court order applicable to a group or organization with authority over an intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this section applies, including an athletic association or an athletic conference. Subject to Subsections (c-3) and (k-1), an institution to which this section applies, a prospective student athlete, a student athlete participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this section applies, or any other individual or entity may perform, allow the performance of, or participate in an action authorized or required by: (1) a group or organization with authority over an intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this section applies, including an athletic association or an athletic conference; or (2) a final court order applicable to a group or organization described by Subdivision (1). (c-3) An institution's, individual's, or entity's performance or allowance of performance of or participation in an action authorized by Subsection (c-2) subjects that institution, individual, or entity to any applicable rule, including an enforcement provision, adopted by the group or organization with authority over an intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this section applies, including an athletic association or an athletic conference. (d) A scholarship, grant, or similar financial assistance awarded to a student athlete by an institution to which this section applies that covers the student athlete's cost of attendance at the institution is not compensation for purposes of this section. (e) A student athlete participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this section applies may not be disqualified from eligibility for a scholarship, grant, or similar financial assistance awarded by the institution because the student athlete: (1) earns compensation from the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness when the student athlete is not engaged in official team activities; or (2) obtains professional representation, including representation by an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, for contracts or other legal matters relating to use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness. (f) An institution to which this section applies may not prescribe a team contract for an intercollegiate athletic program that prohibits or otherwise prevents a student athlete from using the student athlete's name, image, or likeness for a commercial purpose when the student athlete is not engaged in official team activities. (g) A student athlete participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at an institution to which this section applies: (1) shall, before entering into the contract, disclose to the institution, in the manner prescribed by the institution, any proposed contract the student athlete may sign for use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness; (2) may not enter into a contract for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness if: (A) any provision of the contract conflicts with a provision of the student athlete's team contract, a provision of an institutional contract of the institution, a policy of the athletic department of the institution, or a provision of the honor code of the institution; (B) the compensation for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness is provided: (i) in exchange for athletic performance; or (ii) in exchange for an endorsement of alcohol, tobacco products, e-cigarettes or any other type of nicotine delivery device, anabolic steroids, sports betting, casino gambling, a firearm the student athlete cannot legally purchase, or a sexually oriented business as defined in Section 243.002, Local Government Code; or (C) the duration of the contract extends beyond the student athlete's participation in the intercollegiate athletic program; (3) is not considered an employee of the institution based on the student athlete's participation in the intercollegiate athletic program; (4) may earn compensation from selling the student athlete's autograph in a manner that does not otherwise conflict with a provision of this section; and (5) may not use an institution's facility, uniform, registered trademark, copyright-protected product, or official logo, mark, or other indicia in connection with a contract for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness unless the student athlete obtains the institution's express permission. (g-1) Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 332 (H.B. 126), Sec. 2, eff. June 5, 2025. (g-2) An institution may not authorize a use described by Subsection (g)(5) unless the institution requires that: (1) the student athlete and the person contracting for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness comply with any requirements the institution establishes, including requirements related to licensing; and (2) the institution is compensated for the use in an amount consistent with market rates. (h) An institution to which this section applies that identifies a provision in a contract disclosed to the institution by a student athlete under Subsection (g)(1) that conflicts with a provision in the student athlete's team contract, a provision of an institutional contract of the institution, a policy of the athletic department of the institution, or a provision of the honor code of the institution shall promptly disclose the conflict to the student athlete or the student athlete's representative, if applicable. The student athlete or the student athlete's representative is responsible for resolving the conflict not later than the 10th day after the date of the disclosure. (i) An institution to which this section applies shall require a student athlete participating in an intercollegiate athletic program at the institution to attend a financial literacy and life skills course during the student's first academic year at the institution. The course must be at least five hours in duration and include information on financial aid, debt management, time management, budgeting, and academic resources available to the student athlete. The institution may not during the course allow any provider of financial products or services to: (1) market, advertise, or refer the provider's services to a student athlete; or (2) solicit a student athlete to use the provider's services. (j) Repealed by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 332 (H.B. 126), Sec. 2, eff. June 5, 2025. (k) Nothing in this section may be construed as permitting an athlete agent to take any action prohibited under Section 2051.351, Occupations Code. (k-1) Unless a prospective student athlete younger than 17 years of age is enrolled at an institution of higher education, an individual, corporate entity, or other organization, including an institution to which this section applies, may not enter into an arrangement relating to the athlete's name, image, or likeness with the athlete or with an individual related to the athlete by consanguinity or affinity. (l) Information written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained by an institution to which this section applies that includes or reveals any term of a contract or proposed contract for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness is confidential and excepted from required public disclosure in accordance with Chapter 552, Government Code. An institution to which this section applies may withhold information described by this subsection without requesting a decision from the attorney general under Subchapter G, Chapter 552, Government Code. (m) An institution to which this section applies or third-party entity acting on the institution's behalf, or employee of the institution or third-party entity: (1) may identify, create, facilitate, or otherwise assist with opportunities for a currently enrolled student athlete to earn compensation from a third party for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness; and (2) may not, in assisting a student athlete as described by Subdivision (1): (A) act as an athlete agent for the student athlete; (B) be compensated by the student athlete or third party for providing the assistance; (C) attempt to influence the student athlete's choice of professional representation in connection with an opportunity; or (D) attempt to diminish the student athlete's opportunities from competing third parties. (n) A charitable organization exempt from taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section 501(c)(3) of that code, may compensate a student athlete for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness. (o) An activity of a third-party entity that compensates a student athlete for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness may not be construed as an act on behalf of an institution to which this section applies, provided that: (1) the entity is a separate legal entity from the institution; and (2) the institution does not own or control the entity. (p) This section may not be construed as creating a cause of action against an institution or an institution's officers or employees relating to a student athlete's name, image, or likeness. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 613 (S.B. 1385), Sec. 2, eff. July 1, 2021. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 512 (H.B. 2804), Sec. 1, eff. July 1, 2023. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 332 (H.B. 126), Sec. 1, eff. June 5, 2025. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 332 (H.B. 126), Sec. 2, eff. June 5, 2025.