New Bill Could Classify College Athletes As Employees

U.S. senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation Thursday morning that would allow college athletes to collectively bargain for basic labor rights, if it becomes law.

"The bill would prohibit any scholarship that would keep an athlete from collectively bargaining for their rights. In theory, if the bill becomes law, players would be able to have a say in their working conditions. Companion legislation was also introduced in the House of Representatives," CBS Sports notes.

A section of the bills reads as follows:

It's unclear how the bill would alter the ongoing name, image, and likeness legislation that have been introduced in various states across the nation.

"Big time college sports hasn't been 'amateur' for a long time," Murphy and Sanders said in a statement, "and the NCAA has long denied its players economic and bargaining rights while treating them like commodities."

There are the facts. Go debate: