COLUMBUS, Ohio — College athletes in Ohio would not be considered employees under state law, under changes to the state’s budget review made by a legislative committee on Monday.

The proposal, which still faces a number of legislative hurdles before passage, comes after a recent National Labor Relations Board regional director's ruling that Northwestern University football players are employees and can unionize.

The Republican-backed amendment, one of dozens made Monday to the state’s mid-biennium review, “clarifies that college athletes are not considered employees under state law,” according to a House GOP synopsis.

“I think this is a statement of what we all thought was obvious, and that is athletes are not employees of their university," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ron Amstutz, a Wooster Republican.

A final committee vote on the legislation, House Bill 483, is expected on Tuesday. The measure would then have to pass the full House before heading to the Senate for consideration.

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