Legislation that has moved around the country since it was first signed into law in California has reached Georgia as lawmakers look to compensate college athletes for their name, image and likeness.

Rep. Billy Mitchell, D-Stone Mountain has announced that he plans to file a bill next year that would allow college athletes in Georgia to be compensated. Mitchell said the bill is modeled after California’s “Fair Pay to Play Act,” which recently became law.

The NCAA currently prohibits Division I athletes from receiving payment for competing in the sport, working with an agent or permitting the use of their name or likeness for promoting a commercial product or service. The California law would end that, as it would go into effect in 2023, though many predict a legal battle ahead between the NCAA, California and possibly other states.

The issue is particularly interesting to Georgia because in 2014 and 2009, Georgia RB Todd Gurley and WR A.J. Green both received 4-game suspensions after they sold memorabilia as a result of the policies. This law is designed for exactly that kind of transaction.

“With this legislation, Georgia hereby joins a rapidly growing number of states that have filed similar legislation, or are in the process of doing so, including Florida, New York, South Carolina and Minnesota,” Mitchell said, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post. “Not only is this an idea whose time has come, but Georgia schools would be at a decisive disadvantage when it comes to recruiting with other states that join California in implementing this act, if we fail to do the same.”

The issue has been discussed around the SEC, and among Georgia coach Kirby Smart and players since the proposal was in the news at the beginning of the month when the California bill was signed into law.

“I’m pretty sure the players behind me would appreciate that a lot,” RB Brian Herrien said, according to The Red and Black. “I mean, (the legislators) are the best to make those decisions for the players and the community and the people.”

Smart said he would refer to the SEC for direction.

“Our commissioner does a great job leading us in the right direction and I know our president has done a great job being on the committee of name, image and likeness,” Smart said at an Oct. 1 press conference. “He does a great job. They’ll be looking at all the different angles of it and see how it impacts college football.”

Georgia LB Monty Rice was surprised to hear the news from California when asked by a reporter earlier this month.

“Oh for real, I didn’t know that,” Rice said as his eyes widened. “That’s great for California, it really doesn’t take effect down here, so good for them.”