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2000 SESSION

002598528
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 202
Offered January 24, 2000
Establishing the Joint Subcommittee Studying Finance Options for Constructing a Baseball Stadium in Virginia.
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Patrons-- Saslaw and Potts
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, since 1996, a Joint Subcommittee of the Virginia General Assembly has been studying the financial options for constructing a major league baseball stadium in Northern Virginia, including the appropriate roles for state and local governments and the private sector, possible revenue sources, and the costs to state and local governments of such a stadium; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth is the premiere market in the United States without a major league baseball team of its own; and

WHEREAS, Virginia, with a strong financial group of investors is in an excellent position to be awarded an expansion franchise or be the site for the relocation of an existing major league baseball franchise; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has already established a Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority to help secure a major league franchise, find a site for a major league baseball stadium and to facilitate its construction and operation; and

WHEREAS, previous joint subcommittees, in House Document No. 7 to the 1997 Session, have recommended financial strategies based on a public-private partnership to fund the construction of a major league baseball stadium; and

WHEREAS, legislation was previously recommended, and enacted into law, which would rebate to the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority all sales, individual and corporate income taxes for baseball player salaries and baseball related activities, and to allow the host locality to adopt a two percent admissions tax to help offset local expenses of the facility; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has come extremely close to attracting a baseball team during the past few years; and

WHEREAS, due to the number and complexity of issues involved and the need to monitor all of the above factors and the necessity of being in position to react immediately to fast-paced developments in this area; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That there is hereby created a Joint Subcommittee to Study Finance Options for Constructing a Baseball Stadium in Virginia. The joint subcommittee shall monitor Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority efforts to secure a major league baseball team as well as finalize the financing proposal to pay for construction of a major league baseball stadium. The subcommittee shall be composed of 13 members as follows: 4 members of the House of Delegates, with expertise in appropriations, and 2 representatives of local government to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 3 members of the Senate, with expertise in finance, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, and 2 citizens of the Commonwealth, 1 each to be appointed by the Speaker of the House and the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; and 2 members of the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, upon the recommendation of the Authority.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $9,400.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2002 Session of the Virginia General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.