Enacts the public benefits for professional facilities act

BILL NUMBER:S1393

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to enacting the "public benefits for professional facilities act"

Purpose

The primary purpose of this bill is to provide an accounting of all benefits that any state or local authority has granted for the purpose of construction, reconstruction, repair, or rehabilitation of a professional sports facility to the legislature, and to condition such benefits on an affordable ticket agreement.

Summary of provisions

Section One: Title of bill.

Section Two of the bill amends the public authorities law by adding a new title 3-B, Section 2860 which requires that the Empire state development corporation shall publish on its website and provide to the legislature an accounting of all benefits that any state or local authority has granted or obligated itself to grant for the purpose of construction, reconstruction, repair, or rehabilitation of a professional sports facility and requires the Empire State development corporation to publish on its website and provide to the legislature an update of such accounting by February fifteenth of each year. This section also requires state and local authorities to condition any such benefit on an affordable ticket agreement requiring the recipient of the benefit to offer seven percent of tickets sold to any sporting event at affordable prices and limits ticket price increases, in certain circumstances, to no more than two percent annually for the next ten years. Affordable is defined by this section as being within the economic ability of persons whose income is at or below sixty percent of the area median income for a four-person household. Section two also includes anti-scalping provisions to prevent the resale of tickets subject to the agreement at prices above face value.

Section Three: Sets forth the effective date.

Justification

Public authorities often provide enormous subsidies for construction, reconstruction, repair, or renovation of sports facilities. The rationale for providing these subsidies is that the facilities thus created and maintained provide a benefit to the general public. While such benefit may take many forms the basic purpose of these facilities--serving as a venue for spectator sporting events--is often out of reach for New Yorkers with modest means. This bill would make affordable tickets a required part of the public benefit we expect when we subsidize these projects.

Legislative history

2009-10: S.5382 Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.