Provides city of one million or more may assess tickets for professional sporting events for use by city school district

Title of bill

An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to providing for an assessment on admission tickets for professional sporting events held within a city with a population of one million or more for the purpose of funding extracurricular activities in city public schools

Purpose

This legislation would allow city's of one million or more to assess tickets for professional sporting events in order to raise funds to support extracurricular high school athletics and related entities.

Summary of provisions

Amends the general municipal law by adding a new section 6-s.

Justification

Being involved in a school athletic team or a related activity is an invaluable part of many children's developmental experience. The value goes beyond athletic training, and includes camaraderie, socialization and holistic development which are vital to a child's confidence and growth. Athletics provide a sense of belonging and team spirit. Children benefit from the involvement and oversight of additional adults in their lives including coaches, team doctors, and interested parents. Furthermore, extracurricular athletics provide a means for much-needed exercise in an era where the dangers of childhood obesity are of increasing concern.

Unfortunately, lack of adequate funding has dramatically affected the quality and quantity of extracurricular athletic activities offered through New York City's public schools. Uniforms and equipment are old and worn. Safety padding is often patched together, providing inadequate protection. Facilities are outdated and insufficient. Seasons are short and fewer games are played. Start up costs are often prohibitive. These deficiencies have a tremendous impact on the ability of the City's public schools to operate effective extracurricular athletic programs. As a result, students miss out on the valuable benefits of participation in the short run, and are not competitive for college athletic scholarships in the long run.

The legislation seeks to remedy this situation by providing an additional funding source for New York City public school athletic teams and their supporting entities such as marching bands and cheerleaders. By requiring that every vendor holding a professional sporting event in New York city remit an assessment of 3% of the purchase price of each admission ticket into the general fund for distribution to the NYC Board of Education for the purpose of implementing and maintaining public high school athletics, the public schools will be able to more adequately operate these valuable activities.

Legislative history

S.63-A/A.130-A of 2007-08, Passed Senate 6/16/08; S.5621-A/A.1896A of 2005-06.

Fiscal implications

The legislation would generate revenue to be used for the implementation and maintenance of extracurricular athletic activities in the New York City's public high schools.

The bill requires that every vendor holding professional sporting event in New York City remit an assessment of 3% of the purchase price of each admission ticket into the general fund for distribution to the NYC Board of Education for the purpose of implementing and maintaining public high school athletics and related activities. Should the vendors choose to pass the cost of this assessment onto the ticket buyers, it will only add a minimal cost to the ticket price for the average sports fan (50 cents, as an example, on a general admission Yankee ticket costing $15).

Effective date

Thirty days after enactment.