Senate Bill No. 200, known as the "Make American Athletics Great Again Act," aims to impose restrictions on the compensation, rights, and athletic scholarships of international intercollegiate athletes in Louisiana. The bill defines an "international intercollegiate athlete" as a student who is not a U.S. citizen and is enrolled in a postsecondary education institution while participating in an athletic program. It amends existing law to clarify that the provisions regarding intercollegiate athlete compensation do not apply to nonresident international student athletes unless they have obtained permanent legal status in the United States.

Additionally, the bill establishes that postsecondary education institutions may award no more than 25% of available athletic scholarships to students who are citizens of foreign countries for each roster within an athletic program. It also stipulates that international intercollegiate athletes are ineligible for scholarships if they have previously received any form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization based on their athletic skills. The effective date for these changes is set for August 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
SB200 Original: 17:3702(4)
SB200 Engrossed: 17:3702(4)