State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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92_HB0062

 
                                               LRB9201188SMdv

 1        AN ACT in relation to the  Metro-East  Sports  Facilities
 2    Authority.

 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section 1. Short title. This Act  may  be  cited  as  the
 6    Metro-East Sports Facilities Authority Act.

 7        Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
 8        "Authority"   means   the  Metro-East  Sports  Facilities
 9    Authority.
10        "Facility" means any of the following:
11             (1)  Stadiums, arenas, or other structures  for  the
12        holding   of   athletic  contests  or  events,  including
13        baseball,  football,  and  automobile  racing;   musical,
14        dramatic, and other artistic, or social events.
15             (2)  Practice   fields,   or   other   areas   where
16        professional sports teams may practice or perform.
17        "Facility"  also means the following types of property if
18    that property is  directly  related  to  an  item  listed  in
19    paragraphs (1) or (2) of this definition:
20                  (i)  Offices,  parking lots and garages, access
21             roads, transportation facilities,  restaurants,  and
22             stores.
23                  (ii)  Other recreation areas.
24                  (iii)  Other  property or structures, including
25             all   fixtures,   furnishings,   and   appurtenances
26             normally associated with such facilities.
27        "Loan agreement" means a legally binding contract between
28    the Authority and an owner of a facility, pursuant  to  which
29    the  Authority  agrees  to  make  loans  to the owner for the
30    purpose of (i) constructing, acquiring, operating, repairing,
31    rehabilitating, or managing a facility and the site on  which
 
                            -2-                LRB9201188SMdv
 1    a  facility  is  or  is to be located, which facility or site
 2    must be located in Madison or  St.  Clair  County,  and  (ii)
 3    infrastructure improvements related to the facility.

 4        Section  10.  Legislative  finding  and  declaration. The
 5    General Assembly finds that  as  a  result  of  deteriorating
 6    infrastructure and sports facilities in the metropolitan area
 7    including  and  surrounding  Madison  and St. Clair counties,
 8    there is a shortage of sports facilities suitable for use  by
 9    professional  sports teams and other musical, theatrical, and
10    other social organizations.
11        It is further found that as a  result  of  the  costs  to
12    repair or replace the infrastructure and facilities, and as a
13    result  of  current high financing costs, the private sector,
14    without the assistance contemplated in this Act, is unable to
15    construct feasibly adequate sports facilities.
16        It is further found that the creation  of  modern  sports
17    facilities  and  the  other  results contemplated by this Act
18    would stimulate economic activity in the State  of  Illinois,
19    including  the creation and maintenance of jobs, the creation
20    of new and lasting infrastructure and other improvements, and
21    the  retention  of  sports  and  entertainment  events   that
22    generate economic activity.
23        It  is  further found that professional sports facilities
24    can be magnets for substantial interstate  tourism  resulting
25    in  increased  retail  sales, hotel and restaurant sales, and
26    entertainment industry sales, all of which increase jobs  and
27    economic growth.

28        Section 15. Authority and Board created.
29        (a)  The   Metro-East   Sports  Facilities  Authority  is
30    created as a political subdivision, unit of local government,
31    body politic, and municipal corporation.
32        (b)  The  governing  and  administrative  powers  of  the
 
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 1    Authority shall be vested in a body known as  the  Metro-East
 2    Sports  Facilities  Authority Board.  The Board shall consist
 3    of 8 members:
 4             (1)  A Chair, who shall be appointed by the Governor
 5        subject to the approval  of  the  Chair  of  the  Madison
 6        County Board and the Chair of the St. Clair County Board.
 7             (2)  Three   additional  members  appointed  by  the
 8        Governor.
 9             (3)  Two members  appointed  by  the  Chair  of  the
10        Madison County Board.
11             (4)  Two  members  appointed by the Chair of the St.
12        Clair County Board.
13        All  gubernatorial  appointments,  including  the  Chair,
14    shall be subject to the advice and  consent  of  the  Senate,
15    except  in  the case of temporary appointments as provided in
16    Section 20. No member shall be employed by the State  or  any
17    political  subdivision  of  the State or by any department or
18    agency of the State  or  any  political  subdivision  of  the
19    State.

20        Section 20. Terms of appointments.
21        (a)  On the effective date of this Act:
22             (1)  The  Governor  shall  appoint  the Chair for an
23        initial term expiring July 1, 2004, and 3  other  members
24        of  the  Board  for  initial terms expiring July 1 of the
25        years 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively.
26             (2)  The Chair of the  Madison  County  Board  shall
27        appoint 2 members of the Board for initial terms expiring
28        July 1 of the years 2002 and 2003, respectively.
29             (3)  The  Chair  of the St. Clair County Board shall
30        appoint 2 members of the Board for initial terms expiring
31        July 1 of the years 2002 and 2003, respectively.
32        (b)  At  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  any   member
33    appointed  by  the  Governor,  the Governor shall appoint the
 
                            -4-                LRB9201188SMdv
 1    member's successor in the same manner, and at the  expiration
 2    of  the  term  of  any  member  appointed by the Chair of the
 3    Madison County Board or the Chair of  the  St.  Clair  County
 4    Board,  the  appointing  Chair  shall  appoint  the  member's
 5    successor in the same manner, as appointments for the initial
 6    terms.   All  successors  shall  hold  office for a term of 3
 7    years from the first day of July of the year  in  which  they
 8    are appointed, except in the case of an appointment to fill a
 9    vacancy.  Each member, including the Chair, shall hold office
10    until the expiration of  the  member's  term  and  until  the
11    member's successor is appointed and qualified.  Nothing shall
12    preclude a member or a Chair from serving consecutive terms.
13        (c)  Vacancies  for  members  and  for the Chair shall be
14    filled in the same manner as original  appointments  for  the
15    balance of the unexpired term.

16        Section 25.  Actions of the Authority.
17        (a)  Six members of the Authority constitute a quorum for
18    the purpose of conducting business.  Actions of the Authority
19    must receive the affirmative vote of at least 6 members.  The
20    Authority  shall  determine  the  times  and  places  of  its
21    meetings.   The  members of the Authority shall serve without
22    compensation for service as a  member  but  are  entitled  to
23    reimbursement   of   reasonable   expenses  incurred  in  the
24    performance of their official duties.
25        (b)  The Authority shall annually elect a secretary and a
26    treasurer.
27        (c)  An  executive  committee  made  up  of  4   members,
28    comprised of the Chair, one other member who was appointed by
29    the  Governor,  one  member who was appointed by the Chair of
30    the Madison County Board, and one member who was appointed by
31    the Chair of the St. Clair County Board, have  the  authority
32    to  operate  the  Authority  on  a day-to-day basis, with the
33    powers and duties determined by the bylaws of the Authority.
 
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 1        Section 30.  Executive  Director.   The  Authority  shall
 2    appoint  an  Executive  Director,  who is the chief executive
 3    officer of the Authority.  In addition to  any  other  duties
 4    set  forth  in  this Act, the Executive Director shall do the
 5    following:
 6             (1)  Direct and supervise the administrative affairs
 7        and activities of the Authority, in accordance  with  its
 8        rules, regulations, and policies.
 9             (2)  Attend meetings of the Authority.
10             (3)  Keep   minutes   of   all  proceedings  of  the
11        Authority.
12             (4)  Approve all accounts  for  salaries,  per  diem
13        payments, and allowable expenses of the Authority and its
14        employees   and  consultants  and  approve  all  expenses
15        incidental to the operation of the Authority.
16             (5)  Report  and   make   recommendations   to   the
17        Authority  on  the  merits  and  status  of  any proposed
18        facility.
19             (6)  Perform  any  other  duty  that  the  Authority
20        requires for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

21        Section 35. Powers.
22        (a)  In addition to the powers  set  forth  elsewhere  in
23    this Act, the Authority may do the following:
24             (1)  Adopt and alter an official seal.
25             (2)  Sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, all in
26        its  own  name,  and  agree to binding arbitration of any
27        dispute to which it is a party.
28             (3)  Adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations  to  carry
29        out the provisions of this Act.
30             (4)  Maintain  an office or offices at the place the
31        Authority may designate.
32             (5)  Employ,  either   as   regular   employees   or
33        independent    contractors,    consultants,    engineers,
 
                            -6-                LRB9201188SMdv
 1        architects,  accountants,  attorneys,  financial experts,
 2        construction  experts  and  personnel,   superintendents,
 3        managers and other professional personnel, and such other
 4        personnel  as  may  be  necessary  in the judgment of the
 5        Authority, and fix their compensation.
 6             (6)  Acquire, hold, lease, use, encumber,  transfer,
 7        or  dispose  of real and personal property, including the
 8        alteration of  or  demolition  of  improvements  to  real
 9        estate.
10             (7)  Enter into contracts of any kind.
11             (8)  Enter  into one or more loan agreements with an
12        owner of a facility that conform to the  requirements  of
13        this Act and that may contain provisions as the Authority
14        shall determine, including, without limit: (i) provisions
15        granting  the  owner  the  right and option to extend the
16        term of the loan agreement; (ii) provisions  creating  an
17        assignment  and pledge by the Authority of certain of the
18        Authority's revenues and receipts to  be  received  under
19        this  Act for the benefit of the owner of the facility as
20        further security for performance by the Authority of  its
21        obligations   under   the   loan   agreement;  and  (iii)
22        provisions requiring the establishment of reserves by the
23        Authority or by the owner, or both, as  further  security
24        for the performance of their respective obligations under
25        the loan agreement.
26             (9)  Borrow  money from any source for any corporate
27        purpose, including working capital  for  its  operations,
28        reserve  funds,  or  interest, and to mortgage, pledge or
29        otherwise encumber the property or funds of the Authority
30        and to contract with or engage the services of any person
31        in connection with  any  financing,  including  financial
32        institutions,  issuers  of letters of credit, or insurers
33        and enter into reimbursement agreements with this  person
34        which  may  be secured as if money were borrowed from the
 
                            -7-                LRB9201188SMdv
 1        person.
 2             (10)  Receive and accept from any private or  public
 3        source,  contributions,  gifts,  or  grants  of  money or
 4        property.
 5             (11)  Make loans from proceeds  or  funds  otherwise
 6        available  to  the  extent  necessary  or  appropriate to
 7        accomplish the purposes of the Authority.
 8             (12)  Provide for the  insurance  of  any  property,
 9        operations,   officers,   agents,  or  employees  of  the
10        Authority against any risk or hazard and provide for  the
11        indemnification  of  its members, employees, contractors,
12        or agents against any and all risks.
13             (13)  Provide relocation assistance and compensation
14        for  landowners  and  tenants  displaced  by   any   land
15        acquisition  by  the  owner  who  has entered into a loan
16        agreement,  including  the  acquisition   of   land   and
17        construction  of  replacement housing on that land as the
18        Authority shall determine.
19             (14)  Exercise  all  the  corporate  powers  granted
20        Illinois corporations under the Business Corporation  Act
21        of   1983,   except   to   the  extent  that  powers  are
22        inconsistent with those of a body politic  and  corporate
23        of the State.
24             (15)  Do all things necessary or convenient to carry
25        out the powers granted by this Act.
26        (b)  The  Authority  may  not  construct  or enter into a
27    contract to construct a facility.
28        (c)  The  Authority  may  adopt  rules  pursuant  to  the
29    Illinois Administrative Procedure Act  as  are  necessary  to
30    carry  out those powers and duties conferred by this Act. The
31    Authority may initially adopt, by January 1, 2002, such rules
32    as emergency rules  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of
33    Section  5-45  of  the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
34    For purposes of the Illinois  Administrative  Procedure  Act,
 
                            -8-                LRB9201188SMdv
 1    the  adoption  of  the initial rules shall be deemed to be an
 2    emergency and necessary for the public interest, safety,  and
 3    welfare.

 4        Section 40. Duties.
 5        (a)  In  addition  to  the  powers set forth elsewhere in
 6    this Act, subject to the terms of  any  agreements  with  the
 7    holders  of  the  Authority's  evidences of indebtedness, the
 8    Authority shall do the following:
 9             (1)  Comply with all zoning, building, and land  use
10        controls  of  the  municipality  within which it owns any
11        property.
12             (2)  Enter into a loan agreement with an owner of  a
13        facility   to   finance  the  acquisition,  construction,
14        maintenance,  or  rehabilitation  of  the  facility.  The
15        agreement  shall  contain  appropriate   and   reasonable
16        provisions  with  respect  to  termination,  default, and
17        legal remedies.  The loan may be at below-market interest
18        rates.
19             (3)  Create and maintain  a  financial  reserve  for
20        repair and replacement of capital assets.
21        (b)  In  a  loan  agreement for the construction of a new
22    facility, in  connection  with  prequalification  of  general
23    contractors  for  construction of the facility, the Authority
24    shall  require  that  the  owner  of  the  facility   require
25    submission   of   a  commitment  detailing  how  the  general
26    contractor will expend 25% or more of the dollar value of the
27    general  contract  with  one  or   more   minority   business
28    enterprises  and  5%  or more of the dollar value with one or
29    more female business enterprises. This commitment may be  met
30    by  contractor's  status as a minority business enterprise or
31    female  business  enterprise,  by  a  joint  venture,  or  by
32    subcontracting a portion of the work with  or  by  purchasing
33    materials  for the work from one or more such enterprises, or
 
                            -9-                LRB9201188SMdv
 1    by any combination thereof. Any  contract  with  the  general
 2    contractor for construction of the new facility shall require
 3    the  general contractor to meet the foregoing obligations and
 4    shall require monthly reporting to the Authority with respect
 5    to the status  of  the  implementation  of  the  contractor's
 6    affirmative  action  plan and compliance with that plan. This
 7    report  shall  be  filed  with  the  General  Assembly.   The
 8    Authority shall require that the facility owner establish and
 9    maintain  an  affirmative  action program designed to promote
10    equal employment opportunity and that specifies the goals and
11    methods for increasing participation by minorities and  women
12    in  a  representative  mix of job classifications required to
13    perform the respective contracts. The Authority shall file  a
14    report  before March 1 of each year with the General Assembly
15    detailing its implementation of this  subsection.  The  terms
16    "minority   business   enterprise"   and   "female   business
17    enterprise"  have  the  meanings  provided  in  the  Business
18    Enterprise   for   Minorities,   Females,  and  Persons  with
19    Disabilities Act.

20        Section 45. Reporting. Promptly following entering into a
21    loan agreement involving a new facility or facility site, the
22    Authority shall submit a detailed written report and findings
23    of the Authority with respect to the proposed loan  agreement
24    to  the  General  Assembly.  The  report  and findings of the
25    Authority shall include the following:
26             (1)  A detailed plan of the method  of  funding  the
27        loan agreement.
28             (2)  An  evaluation  of the economic consequences of
29        the proposed loan agreement.
30             (3)  An analysis of the reasons for acquiring a site
31        for constructing a new facility.

32        Section 50. Territory. The territory of the Authority  is
 
                            -10-               LRB9201188SMdv
 1    coterminous  with  the  boundaries of the counties of Madison
 2    and St. Clair.

 3        Section 55. Acquisition of property.  The  Authority  may
 4    acquire  in  its  own  name, by gift or purchase, any real or
 5    personal property, or interests in real or personal property,
 6    necessary or convenient to carry out its corporate purposes.

 7        Section 60. Tax exemption. The  Authority  shall  not  be
 8    required  to  pay  property  taxes  on  any property it owns.
 9    During the term of a loan agreement made under this Act,  the
10    owner  of  a  facility  that  is the subject of the agreement
11    shall not be required to pay property taxes on  the  facility
12    or facility site.

13        Section 65. Conflicts of interest; generally.
14        (a)  No  members  or  employees of the Authority shall be
15    employed by, be an  officer  or  director  of,  or  have  any
16    ownership  interest  in  any  corporation or entity that is a
17    party to a loan agreement with the Authority under this Act.
18        (b)  No moneys of the Authority shall be deposited in any
19    financial institution in  which  any  officer,  director,  or
20    holder of a substantial proprietary interest is also a member
21    or employee of the Authority.
22        (c)  No  real estate to which a member or employee of the
23    Authority holds legal title or in which such a person has any
24    beneficial interest, including any interest in a land  trust,
25    shall  be  purchased  by  the  Authority,  nor shall any such
26    property be purchased  by  a  corporation  or  entity  for  a
27    facility  to  be  financed  under  this Act. Every member and
28    employee of  the  Authority  shall  file  annually  with  the
29    Authority  a record of all real estate in this State to which
30    the person holds legal title or in which the person  has  any
31    beneficial  interest, including any interest in a land trust.
 
                            -11-               LRB9201188SMdv
 1    In the event it is later  disclosed  that  the  Authority  or
 2    other  entity  has purchased real estate in which a member or
 3    employee had an interest, the purchase shall be  voidable  by
 4    the  Authority  and  the member or employee involved shall be
 5    disqualified  from  membership  in  or  employment   by   the
 6    Authority.

 7        Section 70. Conflicts of interest; contracts.
 8        (a)  No  member  of  the  Authority or officer, agent, or
 9    employee of the Authority shall, in his or her own name or in
10    the name of a nominee, be an officer or director of  or  hold
11    an  ownership  interest  of  more  than  7.5%  in any person,
12    association, trust, corporation, partnership, or other entity
13    that is, in its own name or in the name of a nominee, a party
14    to a contract or agreement upon which the member or  officer,
15    agent, or employee may be called upon to act or vote.
16        (b)  With respect to any direct or any indirect interest,
17    other  than  an  interest  prohibited in subsection (a), in a
18    contract or agreement  upon  which  the  member  or  officer,
19    agent,  or  employee  may  be  called  upon to act or vote, a
20    member of the Authority or officer, agent, or employee of the
21    Authority shall disclose the same to  the  secretary  of  the
22    Authority  before the taking of final action by the Authority
23    concerning the contract or agreement and  shall  so  disclose
24    the  nature  and  extent  of  such  interest  and  his or her
25    acquisition thereof,  which  disclosures  shall  be  publicly
26    acknowledged by the Authority and entered upon the minutes of
27    the  Authority.   If  a  member  of the Authority or officer,
28    agent, or employee of the Authority holds such  an  interest,
29    then  he  or  she  shall  refrain  from  any further official
30    involvement in regard to  the  contract  or  agreement,  from
31    voting on any matter pertaining to the contract or agreement,
32    and from communicating with other members of the Authority or
33    its  officers,  agents, and employees concerning the contract
 
                            -12-               LRB9201188SMdv
 1    or agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
 2    contract or agreement entered into in  conformity  with  this
 3    subsection  (b) shall not be void or invalid by reason of the
 4    interest described in this subsection, nor shall  any  person
 5    so  disclosing  the  interest  and  refraining  from  further
 6    official involvement as provided in this subsection be guilty
 7    of  an  offense, be removed from office, or be subject to any
 8    other penalty on account of such interest.
 9        (c)  Any contract  or  agreement  made  in  violation  of
10    subsection  (a) or (b) of this Section shall be null and void
11    and give rise to no action against the Authority.

12        Section 75. Records and reports  of  the  Authority.  The
13    secretary  shall  keep  a  record  of  the proceedings of the
14    Authority. The treasurer of the Authority shall be  custodian
15    of  all Authority funds and shall be bonded in the amount the
16    other members of the Authority may  designate.  The  accounts
17    and  books of the Authority shall be set up and maintained in
18    a manner approved by the Auditor General, and  the  Authority
19    shall file with the Auditor General a certified annual report
20    within  120  days  after  the  close  of its fiscal year. The
21    Authority shall also file with the Governor, the Secretary of
22    the Senate, the Clerk of the House  of  Representatives,  the
23    Chair of the St. Clair County Board, the Chair of the Madison
24    County   Board,   and   the   Illinois  Economic  and  Fiscal
25    Commission, by  March  1  of  each  year,  a  written  report
26    covering  its  activities  for  the  previous fiscal year. So
27    filed, the report shall be  a  public  record  and  open  for
28    inspection  at  the  offices  of  the Authority during normal
29    business hours.

30        Section 80. Tax prohibited. The Authority may not  impose
31    any occupation or other tax.
 
                            -13-               LRB9201188SMdv
 1        Section  85.  No impairment of loan agreement.  The State
 2    of Illinois pledges to and agrees  with  any  facility  owner
 3    under  any  loan agreement entered into by the Authority with
 4    respect to a facility that the State will not limit or  alter
 5    the  rights and powers vested in the Authority by this Act so
 6    as to impair the terms of any the loan agreement  or  in  any
 7    way  impair  the  rights and remedies of the owner so long as
 8    the owner is not in default under  the  loan  agreement.   In
 9    addition, the State pledges to and agrees with the owner that
10    the  State  will not limit the basis on which State funds are
11    to be allocated, deposited, and paid to the Authority, or the
12    use of those funds, so as to impair the  terms  of  any  such
13    loan  agreement.  The Authority is authorized to include this
14    pledge and agreement of the State in the loan agreement.

15        Section  90.  Volume  cap.  Notwithstanding   any   other
16    provision  of  law,  the Governor may allocate any volume cap
17    available to the State or  any  of  its  agencies  under  the
18    Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, including any amounts carried
19    forward by the State or any of its agencies with  respect  to
20    stadiums,  to the Metro-East Sports Facilities Authority, and
21    the Authority may carry forward any amount allocated to it by
22    the Governor or by any home rule unit.

23        Section 95. Abolition of Authority. If the Authority  has
24    not  entered into a loan agreement, pursuant to Section 40 of
25    this Act, with or on behalf of a  major  league  professional
26    baseball  franchise  before  one year following the effective
27    date of this Act, the Authority shall be abolished  upon  the
28    expiration of that one-year period.

29        Section 999.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
30    becoming law.

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