As Introduced 1
122nd General Assembly 4
Regular Session H. B. No. 462 5
1997-1998 6
REPRESENTATIVES TIBERI-SCHULER-GARCIA-THOMAS-SYKES-COLONNA- 8
METELSKY-WINKLER-VAN VYVEN-BRITTON 9
11
A B I L L
To enact sections 4501.30 and 4503.59 of the Revised 13
Code to provide for the issuance of motor vehicle 14
license plates bearing the logos of professional 15
sports teams, to provide for the collection of a 16
contribution of $40 for each set of such license 17
plates issued, and to use those contributions to 18
provide funds to the sports commissions of those 19
counties in which are located professional sports 20
teams that contract with the Bureau of Motor 21
Vehicles for the display of their logos on such 22
license plates. 23
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: 25
Section 1. That sections 4501.30 and 4503.59 of the 27
Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: 28
Sec. 4501.30. (A) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED IN THE STATE 31
TREASURY THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS LICENSE PLATE FUND. THE 32
FUND SHALL CONSIST OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE PAID TO THE 33
REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES BY APPLICANTS WHO VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE 34
TO OBTAIN LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF A PROFESSIONAL 35
SPORTS TEAM PURSUANT TO SECTION 4503.59 OF THE REVISED CODE. 37
(B) IF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOCATED IN THIS STATE 40
DESIRES TO HAVE ITS LOGO APPEAR ON LICENSE PLATES ISSUED BY THIS 41
STATE, IT SHALL ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE REGISTRAR TO 42
PERMIT SUCH DISPLAY. THE LARGEST CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU 43
IN EVERY COUNTY IN WHICH IS LOCATED A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM 44
2
THAT ENTERS INTO SUCH A CONTRACT SHALL DESIGNATE A SPORTS 46
COMMISSION OPERATING IN THAT COUNTY TO RECEIVE THE CONTRIBUTIONS 47
THAT ARE PAID BY APPLICANTS WHO CHOOSE TO BE ISSUED LICENSE 48
PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF THAT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM FOR 49
DISPLAY ON THEIR MOTOR VEHICLES. UPON SUCH DESIGNATION, THE 50
REGISTRAR SHALL PAY TO THAT SPORTS COMMISSION ALL CONTRIBUTIONS 51
THAT ARE PAID BY APPLICANTS WHO OBTAIN LICENSE PLATES THAT BEAR 52
THE LOGOS OF PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS LOCATED IN 53
THE COUNTY OF THE DESIGNATED SPORTS COMMISSION, IRRESPECTIVE OF 54
THE COUNTY OF RESIDENCE OF AN APPLICANT. 55
(C) A SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL EXPEND THE MONEY IT RECEIVES 58
UNDER THIS SECTION TO ATTRACT REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND 59
INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, 60
COUNTY, OR TOWNSHIP IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED, AND IT MAY SPONSOR 61
SUCH EVENTS. PRIOR TO ATTRACTING OR SPONSORING SUCH EVENTS, THE 62
SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL PERFORM AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE 63
WHETHER THE PROPOSED EVENT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE ECONOMIC EFFECT 64
ON THE GREATER AREA IN WHICH THE EVENT WILL BE HELD. A SPORTS 65
COMMISSION SHALL NOT EXPEND ANY MONEY IT RECEIVES UNDER THIS 66
SECTION TO ATTRACT OR SPONSOR A REGIONAL, NATIONAL, OR 67
INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT IF ITS ECONOMIC ANALYSIS DOES NOT 68
RESULT IN A FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED EVENT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE 69
ECONOMIC EFFECT ON THE GREATER AREA IN WHICH THE EVENT WILL BE 70
HELD.
(D) THE REGISTRAR SHALL TAKE ALL MEASURES NECESSARY TO 73
IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION, INCLUDING ENTERING INTO ANY CONTRACTS 74
THAT REQUIRE THE PAYMENT OF LICENSING OR RIGHTS FEES IN 75
CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE 76
PLATES. THE REGISTRAR MAY AUTHORIZE AND REQUIRE A SPORTS 77
COMMISSION TO NEGOTIATE SUCH A CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE STATE, 78
BUT THE REGISTRAR AND NOT THE SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL ENTER INTO 79
ALL SUCH CONTRACTS ON BEHALF OF THE STATE. 80
(E) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION: 83
(1) THE "LARGEST" CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU OF A 86
3
COUNTY IS THE BUREAU THAT RECEIVES THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY 87
GENERATED IN THAT COUNTY FROM EXCISE TAXES LEVIED ON LODGING 88
TRANSACTIONS UNDER SECTIONS 351.021, 5739.02, AND 5739.024 OF THE 89
REVISED CODE. 90
(2) "SPORTS COMMISSION" MEANS A LOCAL OR COUNTYWIDE 93
NONPROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE THAT 94
IS ENTITLED TO TAX EXEMPT STATUS UNDER SECTION 501(c)(3) OF THE 96
"INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 100 STAT. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, 101
AS AMENDED, AND WHOSE FUNCTION IS TO ATTRACT, PROMOTE, OR SPONSOR 102
SPORTS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS WITHIN A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, 103
COUNTY, OR TOWNSHIP. A SPORTS COMMISSION MAY PROVIDE ALL 104
SERVICES RELATED TO ATTRACTING, PROMOTING, OR SPONSORING SUCH 105
EVENTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE BOOKING OF ATHLETES 106
AND TEAMS, SCHEDULING, AND HIRING OR CONTRACTING FOR STAFF, 107
USHERS, MANAGERS, AND OTHER PERSONS WHOSE FUNCTIONS ARE DIRECTLY 108
RELATED TO THE SPORTS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS THE COMMISSION 109
ATTRACTS, PROMOTES, OR SPONSORS. "SPORTS COMMISSION" INCLUDES A 110
LOCAL OR COUNTYWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT NAMED A "SPORTS 111
COMMISSION" BUT THAT PERFORMS THE SAME FUNCTIONS AS A SPORTS 112
COMMISSION, IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS 113
OF THIS STATE, AND IS ENTITLED TO TAX EXEMPT STATUS UNDER SECTION 114
501(c)(3) OF THE "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 100 STAT. 2085, 119
26 U.S.C.A. 501, AS AMENDED. 121
Sec. 4503.59. (A) IF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOCATED 124
IN THIS STATE DESIRES TO HAVE ITS LOGO APPEAR ON LICENSE PLATES 125
ISSUED BY THIS STATE, IT SHALL ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE 126
REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO PERMIT SUCH DISPLAY, AS PERMITTED 127
IN SECTION 4501.29 OF THE REVISED CODE. THE OWNER OR LESSEE OF 129
ANY PASSENGER CAR, NONCOMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE, RECREATIONAL 130
VEHICLE, OR OTHER VEHICLE OF A CLASS APPROVED BY THE REGISTRAR 131
MAY APPLY TO THE REGISTRAR FOR THE REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE 132
AND ISSUANCE OF LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF A PROFESSIONAL 134
SPORTS TEAM THAT HAS ENTERED INTO SUCH A CONTRACT. THE 135
APPLICATION SHALL DESIGNATE THE SPORTS TEAM WHOSE LOGO THE OWNER 136
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OR LESSEE DESIRES TO APPEAR ON THE LICENSE PLATES. FAILURE TO 137
DESIGNATE A PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM SHALL RESULT 138
IN REJECTION BY THE REGISTRAR OF THE REGISTRATION APPLICATION. 139
AN APPLICATION MADE UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE COMBINED WITH A 140
REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 141
4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE. UPON RECEIPT OF THE 143
COMPLETED APPLICATION AND COMPLIANCE BY THE APPLICANT WITH 144
DIVISIONS (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION, THE REGISTRAR SHALL ISSUE 147
TO THE APPLICANT THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND A SET 148
OF LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS 149
TEAM THE OWNER DESIGNATED IN THE APPLICATION AND A VALIDATION 150
STICKER, OR A VALIDATION STICKER ALONE WHEN REQUIRED BY SECTION 151
4503.191 OF THE REVISED CODE. 153
IN ADDITION TO THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS ORDINARILY INSCRIBED 156
THEREON, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES SHALL BEAR THE 157
LOGO OF A PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM, AND SHALL 158
DISPLAY COUNTY IDENTIFICATION STICKERS THAT IDENTIFY THE COUNTY 159
OF REGISTRATION BY NAME OR NUMBER.
(B) THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOGO LICENSE PLATES AND 162
VALIDATION STICKER, OR VALIDATION STICKER ALONE, AS THE CASE MAY 163
BE, SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR LICENSE TAX AS 164
PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.04 OF THE REVISED CODE, ANY 167
APPLICABLE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAX LEVIED UNDER CHAPTER 4504. 169
OF THE REVISED CODE, A FEE OF TEN DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 172
COMPENSATING THE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES 173
REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE 174
PLATES, AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS RELATING TO 175
THE REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES. IF THE APPLICATION FOR A 176
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOGO LICENSE PLATE IS COMBINED WITH A 177
REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 178
4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE, THE LICENSE PLATES AND 180
VALIDATION STICKER, OR VALIDATION STICKER ALONE, SHALL BE ISSUED 181
UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR LICENSE TAX AS PRESCRIBED UNDER 182
SECTION 4503.04 OF THE REVISED CODE, ANY APPLICABLE MOTOR VEHICLE 185
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TAX LEVIED UNDER CHAPTER 4504. OF THE REVISED CODE, A FEE OF TEN 188
DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPENSATING THE BUREAU OF MOTOR 189
VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF 190
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES, THE ADDITIONAL FEE 191
PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE, 194
AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS RELATING TO THE 195
REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES. 196
(C) FOR EACH APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION 199
RENEWAL NOTICE THE REGISTRAR RECEIVES UNDER THIS SECTION, THE 200
REGISTRAR SHALL COLLECT A CONTRIBUTION OF FORTY DOLLARS. THE 201
REGISTRAR SHALL TRANSMIT THIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE TREASURER OF 202
STATE FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE STATE TREASURY FOR DISTRIBUTION AS 203
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 4501.30 OF THE REVISED CODE. 205
THE REGISTRAR SHALL TRANSMIT THE ADDITIONAL FEE OF TEN 207
DOLLARS PAID TO COMPENSATE THE BUREAU FOR THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES 209
REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE 210
PLATES TO THE TREASURER OF STATE FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE STATE 211
TREASURY TO THE CREDIT OF THE STATE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FUND 212
CREATED BY SECTION 4501.25 OF THE REVISED CODE. 214