PRINTER'S NO. 4099
No. 2945 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY CARN, ROBINSON, THOMAS, PRESTON, JAMES, KIRKLAND,
TRICH, YOUNGBLOOD, PESCI, MYERS AND WALKO, NOVEMBER 16, 1998
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, NOVEMBER 16, 1998
AN ACT
1 Imposing conditions upon the use of public funds for
2 construction of professional sports facilities.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Professional
7 Sports Franchise Relocation Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Department." The Department of Community and Economic
13 Development of the Commonwealth.
14 "Facility." A place constructed or renovated after January
15 1, 1999:
16 (1) which is owned or leased by a sports organization;
17 and
18 (2) at which professional sporting events will be
1 conducted by a sports organization.
2 "Funding entity." The Commonwealth or a political
3 subdivision.
4 "Public funds." Money received from a funding entity.
5 "Sports organization." A sole proprietorship, partnership,
6 association or corporation that:
7 (1) owns a professional sports franchise; and
8 (2) exhibits events involving that professional sports
9 franchise at a facility.
10 Section 3. Public funds.
11 Public funds may not be expended to construct or renovate a
12 facility unless the sports organization that owns or leases the
13 facility agrees in a writing approved by the department in
14 advance:
15 (1) to provide a minimum of 180 days' written notice
16 prior to relocating outside of this Commonwealth;
17 (2) to grant a right of first refusal which permits
18 submission of a proposal to prevent relocation of the team
19 outside of this Commonwealth; and
20 (3) to forfeit the team name, team logo and team colors
21 upon relocation outside of this Commonwealth.
22 Section 4. Effective date.
23 This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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