As Reported by the House Transportation and Public Safety 1
Committee
122nd General Assembly 4
Regular Session Sub. 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 4501.31 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 $25 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 permit the display of their logos on 21
such license plates. 22
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: 24
Section 1. That sections 4501.31 and 4503.59 of the 26
Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: 27
Sec. 4501.31. (A) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED IN THE STATE 30
TREASURY THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS LICENSE PLATE FUND. THE 31
FUND SHALL CONSIST OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE PAID TO THE 32
REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES BY APPLICANTS WHO VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE 33
TO OBTAIN LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF A PROFESSIONAL 34
SPORTS TEAM PURSUANT TO SECTION 4503.59 OF THE REVISED CODE. 36
(B) IF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOCATED IN THIS STATE 39
DESIRES TO HAVE ITS LOGO APPEAR ON LICENSE PLATES ISSUED BY THIS 40
STATE, IT SHALL INFORM THE LARGEST CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S 42
BUREAU OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM IS 44
LOCATED OF THAT DESIRE. THAT CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
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SHALL DESIGNATE A SPORTS COMMISSION OPERATING IN THAT COUNTY TO 46
RECEIVE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE PAID BY APPLICANTS WHO CHOOSE 47
TO BE ISSUED LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF THAT PROFESSIONAL 48
SPORTS TEAM FOR DISPLAY ON THEIR MOTOR VEHICLES. THE DESIGNATED 50
SPORTS COMMISSION ALSO SHALL HAVE THE DUTIES OF NEGOTIATING WITH 51
THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM TO PERMIT THE DISPLAY OF THE TEAM'S 52
LOGO ON LICENSE PLATES ISSUED BY THIS STATE, ENTERING INTO THE 53
CONTRACT WITH THE TEAM TO PERMIT SUCH DISPLAY, AND PAYING TO THE
TEAM ANY LICENSING OR RIGHTS FEE THAT MUST BE PAID IN CONNECTION 54
WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE PLATES. UPON EXECUTION OF THE 55
CONTRACT, THE SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE A COPY OF IT TO THE 56
REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES, ALONG WITH ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION 57
THE REGISTRAR MAY REQUIRE. UPON RECEIPT OF THE CONTRACT AND ANY 58
REQUIRED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, AND WHEN THE NUMERICAL
REQUIREMENT CONTAINED IN DIVISION (A) OF SECTION 4503.78 OF THE 60
REVISED CODE HAS BEEN MET RELATIVE TO THAT PARTICULAR 61
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM, THE REGISTRAR SHALL TAKE THE MEASURES 62
NECESSARY TO ISSUE LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF THAT TEAM. 63
THE REGISTRAR SHALL PAY TO THE DESIGNATED SPORTS COMMISSION 66
ALL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE PAID BY APPLICANTS WHO OBTAIN LICENSE 67
PLATES THAT BEAR THE LOGOS OF PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS 68
TEAMS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF THE DESIGNATED SPORTS COMMISSION, 69
IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COUNTY OF RESIDENCE OF AN APPLICANT. 70
(C) A SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL EXPEND THE MONEY IT RECEIVES 73
UNDER THIS SECTION TO ATTRACT REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND 74
INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, 75
COUNTY, OR TOWNSHIP IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED, AND IT MAY SPONSOR 76
SUCH EVENTS. PRIOR TO ATTRACTING OR SPONSORING SUCH EVENTS, THE 77
SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL PERFORM AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE 78
WHETHER THE PROPOSED EVENT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE ECONOMIC EFFECT 79
ON THE GREATER AREA IN WHICH THE EVENT WILL BE HELD. A SPORTS 80
COMMISSION SHALL NOT EXPEND ANY MONEY IT RECEIVES UNDER THIS 81
SECTION TO ATTRACT OR SPONSOR A REGIONAL, NATIONAL, OR 82
INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT IF ITS ECONOMIC ANALYSIS DOES NOT 83
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RESULT IN A FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED EVENT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE 84
ECONOMIC EFFECT ON THE GREATER AREA IN WHICH THE EVENT WILL BE 85
HELD.
A SPORTS COMMISSION THAT RECEIVES MONEY PURSUANT TO THIS 87
SECTION, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER DUTIES IMPOSED ON IT BY LAW AND 88
NOTWITHSTANDING THE SCOPE OF THOSE DUTIES, ALSO SHALL ENCOURAGE 90
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS STATE THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF 91
TOURISM WITHIN ALL AREAS OF THIS STATE. A SPORTS COMMISSION THAT 92
RECEIVES TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE DURING ANY CALENDAR YEAR
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE 93
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER OF 95
THE NEXT SUCCEEDING YEAR, DETAILING ITS EFFORTS AND EXPENDITURES 96
IN THE PROMOTION OF TOURISM DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH IT 97
RECEIVED THE TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE.
AS USED IN THIS DIVISION, "PROMOTION OF TOURISM" MEANS THE 99
ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH ADVERTISING, EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL 100
MEANS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, BOTH WITHIN THE STATE AND OUTSIDE OF 102
IT, OF TRAVEL BY PERSONS AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES FOR PLEASURE, 103
PERSONAL REASONS, OR OTHER PURPOSES, EXCEPT TO WORK, TO THIS 104
STATE OR TO THE REGION IN WHICH THE SPORTS COMMISSION IS LOCATED.
(D) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION: 107
(1) THE "LARGEST" CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU OF A 110
COUNTY IS THE BUREAU THAT RECEIVES THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY 111
GENERATED IN THAT COUNTY FROM EXCISE TAXES LEVIED ON LODGING 112
TRANSACTIONS UNDER SECTIONS 351.021, 5739.02, AND 5739.024 OF THE 113
REVISED CODE. 114
(2) "SPORTS COMMISSION" MEANS A LOCAL OR COUNTYWIDE 117
NONPROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE THAT 118
IS ENTITLED TO TAX EXEMPT STATUS UNDER SECTION 501(c)(3) OF THE 120
"INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 100 STAT. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, 125
AS AMENDED, AND WHOSE FUNCTION IS TO ATTRACT, PROMOTE, OR SPONSOR 126
SPORTS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS WITHIN A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, 127
COUNTY, OR TOWNSHIP. A SPORTS COMMISSION MAY PROVIDE ALL 128
SERVICES RELATED TO ATTRACTING, PROMOTING, OR SPONSORING SUCH 129
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EVENTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE BOOKING OF ATHLETES 130
AND TEAMS, SCHEDULING, AND HIRING OR CONTRACTING FOR STAFF, 131
USHERS, MANAGERS, AND OTHER PERSONS WHOSE FUNCTIONS ARE DIRECTLY 132
RELATED TO THE SPORTS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS THE COMMISSION 133
ATTRACTS, PROMOTES, OR SPONSORS. "SPORTS COMMISSION" INCLUDES A 134
LOCAL OR COUNTYWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT NAMED A "SPORTS 135
COMMISSION" BUT THAT PERFORMS THE SAME FUNCTIONS AS A SPORTS 136
COMMISSION, IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS 137
OF THIS STATE, AND IS ENTITLED TO TAX EXEMPT STATUS UNDER SECTION 138
501(c)(3) OF THE "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 100 STAT. 2085, 143
26 U.S.C.A. 501, AS AMENDED. 145
Sec. 4503.59. (A) IF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOCATED 148
IN THIS STATE DESIRES TO HAVE ITS LOGO APPEAR ON LICENSE PLATES 149
ISSUED BY THIS STATE, IT SHALL ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE 150
PROPER SPORTS COMMISSION TO PERMIT SUCH DISPLAY, AS PERMITTED IN 151
SECTION 4501.31 OF THE REVISED CODE. THE OWNER OR LESSEE OF ANY 154
PASSENGER CAR, NONCOMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE, RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, 155
OR OTHER VEHICLE OF A CLASS APPROVED BY THE REGISTRAR MAY APPLY 156
TO THE REGISTRAR FOR THE REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE AND ISSUANCE 157
OF LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM 158
THAT HAS ENTERED INTO SUCH A CONTRACT. THE APPLICATION SHALL 159
DESIGNATE THE SPORTS TEAM WHOSE LOGO THE OWNER OR LESSEE DESIRES 160
TO APPEAR ON THE LICENSE PLATES. FAILURE TO DESIGNATE A 161
PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM SHALL RESULT IN REJECTION 162
BY THE REGISTRAR OF THE REGISTRATION APPLICATION. AN APPLICATION 163
MADE UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE COMBINED WITH A REQUEST FOR A 164
SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 165
OF THE REVISED CODE. UPON RECEIPT OF THE COMPLETED APPLICATION 168
AND COMPLIANCE BY THE APPLICANT WITH DIVISIONS (B) AND (C) OF 170
THIS SECTION, THE REGISTRAR SHALL ISSUE TO THE APPLICANT THE 171
APPROPRIATE VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND A SET OF LICENSE PLATES 172
BEARING THE LOGO OF THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM THE OWNER 173
DESIGNATED IN THE APPLICATION AND A VALIDATION STICKER, OR A 174
VALIDATION STICKER ALONE WHEN REQUIRED BY SECTION 4503.191 OF THE 175
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REVISED CODE. 177
IN ADDITION TO THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS ORDINARILY INSCRIBED 180
THEREON, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES SHALL BEAR THE 181
LOGO OF A PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM, AND SHALL 182
DISPLAY COUNTY IDENTIFICATION STICKERS THAT IDENTIFY THE COUNTY 183
OF REGISTRATION BY NAME OR NUMBER.
(B) THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOGO LICENSE PLATES AND 186
VALIDATION STICKER, OR VALIDATION STICKER ALONE, AS THE CASE MAY 187
BE, SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR LICENSE TAX AS 188
PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.04 OF THE REVISED CODE, ANY 191
APPLICABLE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAX LEVIED UNDER CHAPTER 4504. 193
OF THE REVISED CODE, A FEE OF TEN DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 196
COMPENSATING THE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES 197
REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE 198
PLATES, AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS RELATING TO 199
THE REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES. IF THE APPLICATION FOR A 200
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOGO LICENSE PLATE IS COMBINED WITH A 201
REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 202
4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE, THE LICENSE PLATES AND 204
VALIDATION STICKER, OR VALIDATION STICKER ALONE, SHALL BE ISSUED 205
UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR LICENSE TAX AS PRESCRIBED UNDER 206
SECTION 4503.04 OF THE REVISED CODE, ANY APPLICABLE MOTOR VEHICLE 209
TAX LEVIED UNDER CHAPTER 4504. OF THE REVISED CODE, A FEE OF TEN 212
DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPENSATING THE BUREAU OF MOTOR 213
VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF 214
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES, THE ADDITIONAL FEE 215
PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE, 218
AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS RELATING TO THE 219
REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES. 220
(C) FOR EACH APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION 223
RENEWAL NOTICE THE REGISTRAR RECEIVES UNDER THIS SECTION, THE 224
REGISTRAR SHALL COLLECT A CONTRIBUTION OF TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS. 225
THE REGISTRAR SHALL TRANSMIT THIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE TREASURER 226
OF STATE FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE STATE TREASURY FOR DISTRIBUTION AS 227
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DESCRIBED IN SECTION 4501.31 OF THE REVISED CODE. 229
THE REGISTRAR SHALL TRANSMIT THE ADDITIONAL FEE OF TEN 231
DOLLARS PAID TO COMPENSATE THE BUREAU FOR THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES 233
REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE 234
PLATES TO THE TREASURER OF STATE FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE STATE 235
TREASURY TO THE CREDIT OF THE STATE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FUND 236
CREATED BY SECTION 4501.25 OF THE REVISED CODE. 238