Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed the Jordan McNair Safe and Fair Play Act into law Tuesday afternoon, bolstering health precautions for student-athletes at institutions within the University System of Maryland.
The bill also permits student-athletes to profit off of their own name, image and likeness, which allows athletes to receive endorsement deals.
Del. Brooke Lierman (D-Baltimore City) sponsored the bill, which is named in honor of Jordan McNair, a former University of Maryland football player who died after experiencing heatstroke during a team workout in 2018.
[A bill named after Jordan McNair would allow athletes to profit off their own names]
The legislation requires that athletic programs adopt guidelines to prevent heat illness, brain injury and rhabdomyolysis — a syndrome that occurs when damaged muscle fibers enter the bloodstream. The bill also adds exercise and supervision guidelines for athletes with sickle cell trait or asthma.
Hogan signed 226 bills into law Tuesday.
