RS 2365.1 - Major Events Incentive Program and the Major Events Incentive Program Subfund
A. As used in this Section:
(1) "Endorsing municipality" means either of the following:
(a) A municipality that contains a site selected by a site selection organization for a qualified event and is a party to an event support contract.
(b) A municipality that does not contain a site selected by a site selection organization for a qualified event, but is included in the market area for the event as designated by the secretary and is a party to an event support contract.
(2) "Endorsing parish" means either of the following:
(a) A parish that contains a site selected by a site selection organization for a qualified event and is a party to an event support contract.
(b) A parish that does not contain a site selected by a site selection organization for a qualified event, but is included in the market area for the event as designated by the secretary and is a party to an event support contract.
(3) "Event support contract" or "event contract" means a joint undertaking, a joint agreement, or a similar contract executed by a local organizing committee, an endorsing municipality, or an endorsing parish, or any combination thereof, and a site selection organization.
(4) "Local organizing committee" means an organization created or recognized as the official host entity sanctioned by an endorsing municipality or parish for a specified qualified major event.
(5) "Qualified event" or "qualified major event" means a National Football League Super Bowl, a National Collegiate Athletic Association Final Four tournament game, the National Basketball Association All-Star Game, the X Games, a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision postseason game, a college tournament or championship, the World Games, a national collegiate championship of an amateur sport sanctioned by the national governing body of the sport that is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, an Olympic activity including a Junior or Senior activity, training program, or feeder program sanctioned by the United States Olympic Committee's Community Olympic Development Program, a mixed martial arts championship, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, a Bassmasters Classic, a National Motorsports race, the Red Bull Signature Series, a National Collegiate Athletic Association football kickoff game, a national championship or Olympic trials of an amateur or professional sport sanctioned by the national governing body of the sport, the United States Bowling Congress Tournament, the WWE WrestleMania, the Bayou Classic, the Essence Festival, the Zurich Classic, a national military event, a national political convention of the Republican National Committee or of the Democratic National Committee, or any National Collegiate Athletic Association conference, convention, or conference media event, including conference media days. The term includes any activities related to or associated with a qualified event.
(6) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Economic Development.
(7) "Site selection organization" means any of the following:
(a) The National Football League, the National Collegiate Athletic Association or any affiliated conference, the National Basketball Association, the International World Games Association, or the United States Olympic Committee.
(b) The national governing body of a sport that is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee.
(c) The National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
(d) The Republican National Committee or Democratic National Committee.
(e) The United States Bowling Congress.
(f) The national governing body of an organization, not listed in Subparagraphs (a) through (e) of this Paragraph, that schedules a qualifying event as defined in Subparagraph (5) of this Paragraph.
(8) "Treasurer" means the treasurer of the state of Louisiana.
B.(1) There is hereby established in the state treasury a special subfund in the Mega-Project Development Fund to be known as the "Major Events Incentive Program Subfund", hereafter in this Section, the "subfund".
(2) Beginning with the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year and for each fiscal year thereafter, and after allocation of money to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as provided in Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the treasurer shall transfer in and credit to the subfund the amount appropriated to the fund by the legislature. In determining the amount of the annual appropriation to the fund, the legislature shall consider the contracts which have been entered into pursuant to Subsection C of this Section as well as any recruitment efforts being made by the local organizing committee for qualified events.
(3) Monies in the subfund shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the Louisiana Mega-Project Development Fund and any interest earned on the investment of monies in the subfund shall be credited to the subfund. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the subfund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the subfund.
(4) Monies in the fund shall be appropriated and used to provide funding for entities within the state for the costs associated with attracting, hosting, and staging major events of areawide, statewide, regional, national, or international prominence. Such funding shall require prior approval of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.
C.(1) The secretary of the Department of Economic Development is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with a local organizing committee, endorsing parish, or endorsing municipality to recruit, solicit, or acquire for Louisiana any qualified event that will have a significant positive impact on economic development in the state. The contract shall provide for a financial commitment to the local organizing committee, endorsing parish, or endorsing municipality which shall be subject to legislative appropriation. Prior to executing the contract, the secretary shall obtain the approval of the commissioner of administration and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.
(2) The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget may meet in executive session pursuant to the procedures and requirements of R.S. 42:18 when the members have reason to believe that the discussion at such meeting may otherwise result in the public disclosure of information which may negatively impact the ability of the local organizing committee, endorsing parish, or endorsing municipality to recruit, solicit, or acquire for Louisiana any qualified event.
(3) The treasurer shall disburse monies to an eligible entity only in accordance with a legislative appropriation.
D.(1) An event not included in the definition of qualified event is ineligible for funding as provided for in this Section. A qualified major event may receive funding as provided by this Section only if such event meets either of the following conditions described in this Paragraph and the provisions of Paragraph (2) of this Subsection:
(a) After considering through a highly competitive selection process one or more sites that are not located in this state, a site selection organization selects a site located in this state for an event to be held once, or for an event scheduled to be held annually for a period of years under an event contract.
(b) A site selection organization selects a site in this state as the sole site for the event.
(2) The event is held not more frequently than annually.
Acts 2015, No. 12, §1, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2016, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 2, §1, eff. March 3, 2016; Acts 2018, No. 689, §1; Acts 2019, No. 233, §1; Acts 2021, No. 216, §1.