California bill crafted to require school payments to college athletes pulled by sponsor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A proposal that would require California universities to pay their athletes through a “degree completion fund” has been withdrawn. The plan would have required schools earning at least $10 million in athletics media rights revenue each year to pay $25,000 to certain athletes through the degree funds. The plan was dropped after the NCAA and the nation’s five biggest conferences announced a $2.8 billion settlement plan to address antitrust claims. Among other things, that plan allows each school to spend up to some $22 million each year in direct payments to athletes.