State lawmakers on Wednesday approved first-in-the-nation legislation requiring California universities with the most high-profile sports programs to provide financial protections for student athletes who suffer career-ending injuries.

Schools would have to give academic scholarships to students who lose their athletic scholarships because of an injury suffered playing their sport. The bill also requires them to cover insurance deductibles and pay health care premiums for low-income athletes.

SB1525 would apply to universities that receive more than $10 million annually in sports media revenue. The bill would apply this year to the University of Southern California, Stanford University and the University of California campuses in Los Angeles and Berkeley. San Diego State University is likely to reach the $10 million threshold soon because it recently switched to a different conference with more lucrative television rights.