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2000 SESSION

001204528
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 202
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Rules
on February 14, 2000)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Saslaw)
Requesting the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority to study finance options for constructing a baseball stadium in Virginia.

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, further study is needed to examine the number of complex issues involved, to monitor all of the above factors, and to place the Commonwealth in a 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 the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority be requested to study finance options for constructing a baseball stadium in Virginia.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Authority, upon request.

The Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority 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.