US SENATE PASSES PROTECT COLLEGE SPORTS ACT

The US Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act on Monday by 77 votes to 22. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives. One report described it as a landmark measure covering college athletics in the United States. It would give the National Collegiate Athletic Association and its member schools a shield from antitrust law, introduce limits on athlete transfers, and create a framework for athlete compensation worth up to $50 million, according to the report.

Pat Forde of SI.com reported that an unnamed source put the chance of the House passing the bill before November's midterm elections at zero percent. Control of the House is widely expected to shift to the Democratic Party after those elections, according to reports. That raises questions over whether the current House will consider the bill before the next Congress convenes in January. Reports noted that college football has grown more popular and profitable in recent years, a point raised by supporters of the bill. Athletes have gained greater scope to earn compensation from college sports under separate rule changes, according to reports.

The bill must still clear the House before it can become law, and no timetable has been confirmed. Supporters see it as a way to protect the NCAA and its member schools from the effects of expanded athlete compensation and related legal challenges, according to reports. Its outcome may depend on decisions taken once a newly elected Congress convenes in January, following November's midterm elections. No date has been set for a House vote, based on the available reporting.