Bill Text: MS HB436 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mississippi Sports Commission; create.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2017-01-31 - Died In Committee [HB436 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2017-HB436-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Revenue and Expenditure General Bills

By: Representative Bell (65th)

House Bill 436

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI SPORTS COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO PROMOTE AUTHENTIC MISSISSIPPI SPORTS CULTURE FOR PURPOSES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; TO PRESCRIBE THE FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION; TO PROVIDE FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSION; TO EMPOWER THE COMMISSION TO ACCEPT AND EXPEND GRANT FUNDS; TO PROVIDE FOR INTERDEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  There is created the Mississippi Sports Commission, hereinafter referred to as the "commission."  The commission may accept and expend grants and private donations from any source, including federal, state, public and private entities, to assist it to carry out its functions.

     (2)  The powers, functions and duties of the commission shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

          (a)  To study, deliberate and report to the Governor and the Legislature on the best method or plan to market and foster an appreciation of Mississippi sports and athletics, to include tourism, academic study and sports and athletics archives, sports and athletics historical preservation, sports and athletics cultural education and the support of athletes and other sports and athletics personalities.  The marketing plan shall be designed to attract tourists, conferences, sports and athletics events and performances, filmmakers and others for the purpose of economic development of all geographic areas of the state, through the promotion of sports and athletics in Mississippi, and the heritage and culture that produced such sports and athletics, and to analyze the tourism potential of the fields of sports and athletics for Mississippi.

          (b)  To make an inventory of sports and athletics "assets" that make up the sports and athletics culture and history  that could be developed into a program for domestic and international tourism, and opportunities for investment.

          (c)  To establish a statewide Mississippi "Sports Trail" infrastructure to offer to tourists and targeted groups a structured tour of Mississippi sports historical sites and performance venues.

          (d)  To coordinate with the Division of Tourism of the Mississippi Development Authority, the Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Mississippi Educational Television Authority, the State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Southern Mississippi, the University Center for Economic Development at Mississippi Valley State University, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, the Mississippi Arts Commission and similar organizations in the sharing of resources and information in order to ensure a comprehensive approach to marketing the sports and athletics culture in Mississippi.

          (e)  To make recommendations regarding the establishment of, and budgeting for, a permanent Mississippi Office of Sports and Athletics as an agency of state government with an executive director and appropriate staff to carry out the marketing plan developed by the commission.  To the extent practical, any office shall be located at an existing public or private location which is appropriate to the sports and athletics culture in Mississippi, with minimal cost to the state.

          (f)  To coordinate the sports and athletics marketing plan with any existing state historic preservation programs, in order to:

              (i)  Identify and preserve sports and athletics historic properties or sites;

              (ii)  Determine the eligibility of those properties or sites for listing on the National Register;

              (iii)  Prepare nominations of those properties or sites for inclusion on the National Register;

              (iv)  Maintain sports and athletics historical and archaeological data bases; and

              (v)  Evaluate those properties and sites for eligibility for state and federal preservation incentives.

     (3)  The commission shall be composed of the following members:

          (a)  The Director of the Division of Tourism of the Mississippi Development Authority, or his designee;

          (b)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, or his designee;

          (c)  The Director of the University Center for Economic Development at Mississippi Valley State University, or his designee;

          (d)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, or his designee;

          (e)  The Athletic Director at Alcorn State University, or his designee;

          (f)  The Athletic Director at Delta State University, or his designee;

          (g)  The Athletic Director at Jackson State University, or his designee;

          (h)  The Athletic Director at Mississippi State University, or his designee;

          (i)  The Athletic Director at Mississippi Valley State University, or his designee;     

          (j)  The Athletic Director at the Mississippi University for Women, or his designee;

          (k)  The Athletic Director at the University of Mississippi, or his designee;

          (l)  The Athletic Director at the University of Southern Mississippi, or his designee;

          (m)  Two (2) members of the Mississippi Senate designated by the Lieutenant Governor, who shall serve on a nonvoting basis;

          (n)  Two (2) members of the Mississippi House of Representatives designated by the Speaker of the House, who shall serve on a nonvoting basis;

          (o)  Two (2) members appointed by the Governor, who shall have experience in cultural affairs or tourism development in the Mississippi Delta; and

          (p)  Four (4) members appointed by the Governor from the state at large, who shall have demonstrated a commitment to the understanding and promotion of sports and athletics.

     (4)  The Governor shall designate one (1) commission member to serve as chairman for a term concurrent with that of the Governor.  The commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman not later than August 1, 2017, and shall organize for business by adopting internal organizational procedures necessary for efficient operation of the commission, including officers, quorum requirements and policies for any commission staff.  Each member of the commission shall designate necessary staff of his or her respective agency, department, university or business entity, as the case may be, to provide administrative support to assist the commission in performing its duties and responsibilities.  The commission shall meet and conduct business at least quarterly each year.  Meetings of the commission shall be open to the public and opportunity for public comment shall be made available.

     (5)  Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     (6)  The commission shall submit a report, including any proposed legislation, to the Governor and to the Legislature before the convening of the 2018 Regular Session.  The report shall include a comprehensive state plan for marketing the fields of sports and athletics as specifically provided above.

     (7)  All departments, boards, agencies, officers and institutions of the state, and all subdivisions thereof, shall cooperate with the commission in carrying out its purposes under this act.

     (8)  Any funds or donations received by the commission shall be deposited into a special fund which is created in the State Treasury.  The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state.  Unexpended amounts remaining in the special fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the special fund.

     Monies in the fund shall be expended by the Department of Finance and Administration after receipt of requisitions submitted by the appropriate person designated by the commission.  Monies in the special fund may be used by the commission in carrying out its responsibilities under this act.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.