New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a bipartisan coalition of 18 attorneys general urging Congress to pass the NCAA Accountability Act of 2023. If signed into law, this legislation would ensure that the NCAA provides transparent due process in its investigations and creates fairness for college athletes, coaches, and institutions.
“When powerful interests and institutions lack accountability, we know that those without power have little to no chance of standing up for their rights,” said Attorney General James. “The NCAA currently holds tremendous authority over thousands of New York college athletes, and many more throughout the nation. That is why I am proud to stand with my fellow attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the NCAA Accountability Act of 2023. I will always fight to ensure the rule of law is extended equally in New York, regardless of people’s or companies’ wealth or power.”
According to James, the NCAA uses lengthy, opaque, and arbitrary investigations, and this legislation would change that by increasing accountability and transparency. She claims the NCAA’s current unchecked concentration of power is a problem that leaves college athletes vulnerable to mistreatment, distracts both students and universities from their educational priorities, and results in unequal treatment that can deprive athletes, coaches, and institutions of a fair process.
James says given the economic powerhouse that college sports have become, such NCAA investigations can harm the level of competition in respective sports and also damage the financial well-being of higher institutions and the surrounding areas. Additionally, such investigations effectively deprive college athletes of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, which allows college athletes the opportunity to monetize their brand.
Joining Attorney General James in sending this letter to Congress are the attorneys general of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, and the District of Columbia.
In addition to calling on Congress to pass the NCAA Accountability Act of 2023, Attorney General James has been in favor of protecting college athletes. Earlier this month, Attorney General James and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general sued the NCAA for its transfer eligibility rule, which prohibits student-athletes from competing in games for a year if they transfer schools more than once. Attorney General James secured a temporary injunction, which was extended to become a preliminary injunction, against the NCAA for its transfer eligibility rule. Under the preliminary injunction, college athletes can now participate in games if they have transferred schools.
