; (2) limits or restricts the rights of student athletes, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, conferences, or institutions of higher education under this Act; or (3) relates to the rights of student athletes to receive compensation directly or indirectly from any institution of higher education, affiliate of an institution of higher education, third party, conference, or the National Collegiate Athletic Association. (b) Nondiscrimination of student athletes No State or political subdivision of a State may establish or continue in effect any law, regulation, rule, requirement, or standard that is inconsistent with title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972 ( 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq. ), including any law, regulation, rule, requirement, or standard that provides for the payment of student athletes participating in a varsity intercollegiate athletics program based on a share of annual revenue generated by that particular sports program. 12. Rules of construction (a) Tax provisions Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall affect the treatment of qualified scholarships under section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (b) Classification of student athletes Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall affect the employment status of a student athlete with respect to a conference or an institution of higher education.