Published: 1/12/2012

Ohio lawmaker introduces college athlete stipend bill

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS — An Ohio legislator has introduced a bill that would allow universities in the state to pay athletes annual stipends of up to $8,000.

The Wednesday proposal from Democratic state Rep. Clayton Luckie of Dayton also would allow outside sources to pay athletes up to $4,000.

The bill comes in the wake of an Ohio State football scandal in which players improperly sold memorabilia, such as championship rings, for tattoos and cash.

Luckie’s bill would allow NCAA Division I schools to pay up to $8,000, Division II schools to pay up to $6,000 and other schools to pay up to $4,000.

The NCAA board approved a rule last year that would allow schools to give athletes stipends of up to $2,000, but it was suspended after at least 125 schools objected.

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