A newly formed task force created by the State University System of Florida’s Board of Governors held its first meeting on Monday to “confront the financial and legal uncertainty surrounding” NIL, according to Garrett Shanley of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The task force, which includes trustees, ADs and outside advisers, plans to “develop policies that align with evolving federal law while keeping Florida competitive with states such as Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee.” Members said that they will “examine how to expand NIL opportunities across all sports while complying with Title IX requirements.” Shanley notes another “priority is education -- helping athletes navigate contracts, finances and personal branding in a more professionalized system.” Task force chair Ken Jones “stressed the need to protect Olympic sports programs that rely on college athletics as a pipeline.” The task force is “expected to continue meeting in the coming months and develop recommendations” for the BOG. Last summer, the BOG approved an “emergency policy allowing each public university to access” up to $22.5M per year -- “through loans or transfers from auxiliary funds like printing and parking services -- to support athlete compensation over a three-year period.” The measure was “designed to help institutions prepare for revenue-sharing tied to the House settlement” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/23).
Florida task force meets to begin work on plan for NIL policies
