SENATE BILL REPORT

E2SHB 2774

BYHouse Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Rasmussen, Cantwell, Doty, Schoon, Rector, Jesernig, Moyer, Kirby, Wineberry, Raiter, G. Fisher, Tate, Youngsman, P. King, Ferguson, Winsley, Dorn, Betrozoff and Sayan)

Providing for economic impact studies of sports events.

House Committe on Trade & Economic Development

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Economic Development & Labor

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 22, 1990; February 23, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Lee, Chairman; McMullen, Matson, Murray, Smitherman, Warnke, Williams.

Senate Staff:Jonathan Seib (786-7427)

                  February 23, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & LABOR, FEBRUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Sports activities are being used in many communities across the nation as a tool to generate economic development.  The Washington State Legislature has received a number of requests for financial assistance in staging sports events and for the construction or enhancement of sports-related facilities.  It is often difficult to obtain accurate, reliable, and comparable information with which to judge the economic impact of these requests.

Generally, the Department of Community Development or the Department of Trade and Economic Development administer state financial assistance for sports events or related facilities on a case by case basis.  There is no systemized process by which persons or organizations receive funding for sports events facilities.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Community Development is required to develop a process to assess the economic costs and benefits of sports events and the construction of sports-related capital facilities.  As part of this process, the department is required to contract with the Department of Revenue or the Office of Financial Management for the development of an econometric model capable of estimating the impacts of sports events and facilities in a community.

The department is required to recommend to the Legislature an application process or processes for requests for state funding for sports events or sports-related capital facilities, and must consider the appropriate role of an advisory committee in that process.  The department is required to establish an advisory committee to review both the development of the economic impact assessment process and the development of the application process.

The department is to develop current information on sports development activities in Washington State and in the United States, and survey existing sports facilities in Washington State.

The department shall report to the Legislature on the activities related to the charges in this act by January 1991.

Appropriation:    $80,000 to the Department of Community Development.

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT: 

The appropriation is stricken.  If funding is not provided in the supplemental budget, the act will be null and void.

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Rasmussen, original prime sponsor; Representative Cantwell, original sponsor