As usual the California legislature has no idea what it's doing. The legal implications of this for its state universities were just not considered. It's likely that courts will rule that these athletes are professionals, and that will be a nightmare for the universities involved. It will jeopardize these universities non-profit status. The fact that the payments are going directly to the players and not through the university will not, in the end, make any legal distinction, IMHO. I'm not a great fan of the NCAA, but in this case they are completely right to oppose this ill-considered piece of legislation. I know I'm in the minority on this board in what I've said in this post, but just watch how this plays out. It ain't going to be pretty, and it has the potential of destroying college athletics as we know them. In some ways that's not a bad thing, but this ain't the way to do it.
Hmmmm. Why do you think it would jeopardize non-profit status?
I think California may know exactly what it is doing and is trying to blow this whole thing up, regardless of whatever headaches it causes.
I don't understand why the NCAA is a target at all. If athletes do not like the NCAA rules, they are free to play somewhere else and get paid. Happens non-stop in just about every sport. Baseball, hockey, soccer, tennis, etc. For basketball, if you want to get paid go play in the NBA's D League or europe for australia or wherever. For football, well, good luck but why is it the NCAA fault there is no alternative sport for football?