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2023 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1400 (Committee Approved)

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Virginia Football Stadium Authority Review Process (language only)

Item 4-14 #1h

Item 4-14 #1h

Effective Date

Language

Page 760, after line 48, insert:

"31.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 15.2 a chapter numbered 58.1, consisting of §§ 15.2-5824 through 15.2-5827, as follows:


§ 15.2-5824. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Authority" means the Virginia Football Stadium Authority.

"Facility" means (i) a professional football stadium, (ii) practice fields or other areas where professional football teams may practice or perform, (iii) offices for the primary team, (iv) offices, restaurants, concessions, and retail and lodging facilities that are owned and operated in connection with a professional football stadium, and (v) any other directly related properties, including onsite and offsite parking lots, garages, and other properties, all located on a site specified by the primary team and consented to by the Authority and the county or city in which the site is located.

"Primary team" means the professional football team that is or will be the principal user of the facility.

"Professional football stadium" means a football stadium capable of hosting the home games of a professional football team.

"Professional football team" means a National Football League team.

§ 15.2-5825. Creation of Authority.
There is hereby established a body corporate and politic known as the Virginia Football Stadium Authority. The Authority is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth.

§ 15.2-5826. Members of Authority; chairman; terms.
A. The Authority shall consist of nine members who shall be appointed by the Governor, including the four members appointed pursuant to subsection B. The Governor shall designate one of the members as chair, provided that no member appointed pursuant to subsection B shall be designated as chair. The members of the Authority annually shall elect a vice-chair from their membership who shall perform the duties of the chair in his absence. In making appointments to the Authority, the Governor shall ensure that the geographic areas of the Commonwealth are represented; however, in the event that the location of the facility is proposed, at least three members of the Authority, other than those members appointed pursuant to subsection B, shall be residents of the county or city in which the facility is to be located. The appointments of the members by the Governor pursuant to this section shall be confirmed in accordance with § 2.2-107.

B. In the event that the location of the facility is proposed, the Governor shall appoint four members of the Authority from a list of individuals proposed by the primary team. As the terms of such members end, or upon the resignation or removal of any of such members, the Governor shall appoint new members from a list proposed by the primary team.

C. Each member shall be a representative of the private sector and have the education, experience, and skills necessary to execute effectively the duties and responsibilities of a member of the Authority.

D. The term of a member of the Authority is five years. However, upon the initial appointment of the members of the Authority, the terms of the members shall be staggered as follows: The initial term of three of the members shall be five years; the initial term of three members shall be four years; and the initial term of the remaining three members shall be three years. The Governor shall designate the term to be served by each appointee at the time of appointment.

E. At the end of a term, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies. A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. Upon the end of the term of a member, or upon the resignation or removal of a member, the Governor shall appoint a member to the Authority.  The Governor may remove a member for cause in accordance with § 2.2-108. The members of the Authority shall receive no compensation for their services, but a member may be reimbursed by the Authority for reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of the duties of that office.

§ 15.2-5827. Quorum; actions of Authority; meetings.
Five members of the Authority shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business, however, if applicable, among those five, there shall at all times be at least one member appointed pursuant to subsection B of § 15.2-5826. The decision of a majority of those members  present and voting shall constitute a decision of the Authority. No vacancy on the Authority shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all the duties of the Authority. The Authority shall determine the times and places of its regular meetings. Special meetings of the Authority shall be held when requested by a quorum of the members of the Authority. Any such request for a special meeting shall be in writing, and the request shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the matters to be considered at the meeting. A reasonable effort shall be made to provide each member with notice of any special meeting. No matter not specified in the notice shall be considered at such special meeting unless all the members of the Authority are present.

32. That the provisions of the thirty-first enactment of this act shall expire if the Virginia Football Stadium Authority (the Authority) established under § 15.2-5825 of the Code of Virginia, as created by the thirty-first enactment of this act, has not (i) identified a primary team, as that term is defined in § 15.2-5824 of the Code of Virginia, as created by the thirty-first enactment of this act; (ii) been notified of the primary team's interest in the construction of a facility, as that term is defined in § 15.2-5824 of the Code of Virginia, as created by the thirty-first enactment of this act; and (iii) presented a proposal for the construction of such facility to the MEI Project Approval Commission in accordance with the provisions of the thirty-third enactment of this act before July 1, 2024.

33. That in the event that a primary team notifies the Governor, the Virginia Football Stadium Authority (the Authority) established under § 15.2-5825 of the Code of Virginia, as created by the thirty-first enactment of this act, the Secretary of Finance, and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade of its interest in constructing a facility, as that term is defined in § 15.2-5824 of the Code of Virginia, as created by the thirty-first enactment of this act, in a locality of the Commonwealth, the Authority, the Secretary of Finance, and the Secretary of Commerce and Trade shall present to the MEI Project Approval Commission (the Commission) the terms of any proposal for the construction of such facility, including (i) the proposed financing of such facility and any use of public funds through economic development incentives or the recapture of sales and use, personal income, or corporate income taxes; (ii) the estimated return on investment to the Commonwealth; and (iii) the results of the study conducted pursuant to Item 485 of the first enactment of this act for the Secretary of Finance to develop relevant capabilities, conduct planning, and evaluate potential economic development incentives related to the relocation of a primary team to the Commonwealth. The Commission may recommend approval or denial of any such proposal to the General Assembly.

34. That the Virginia Football Stadium Authority (the Authority) established under § 15.2-5825 of the Code of Virginia, as created thirty-first enactment of this act, shall be prohibited from entering into any arrangement to construct a facility or any development agreement or lease agreement with a primary team unless (i) authorization to enter into such an arrangement or agreement is authorized by the General Assembly and (ii) the General Assembly has provided sufficient powers to the Authority to effectuate the terms of such an arrangement or agreement."

Page 760, line 49, strike "31" and insert "35".

Page 760, line 50, strike "32" and insert "36".

Page 761, line 1, strike "33" and insert "37."

Page 760, line 50, strike "and" and insert ",".

Page 760, line 50, after "second" insert:

"thirty-first, thirty-second, thirty-third, and thirty-fourth."



Explanation

(This amendment creates the Virginia Football Stadium Authority and its governing board. It also establishes a process to review any proposed economic development incentives or financial arrangement related to the relocation of a NFL football team to the Commonwealth by the MEI Commission.)