To enact sections 4501.31 and 4503.59 of the Revised Code to provide for the issuance of motor vehicle license plates bearing the logos of professional sports teams, to provide for the collection of a contribution of $25 for each set of such license plates issued, and to use those contributions to provide funds to the sports commissions of those counties in which are located professional sports teams that permit the display of their logos on such license plates.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Sec. 4501.31. (A) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED IN THE STATE TREASURY THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS LICENSE PLATE FUND. THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE PAID TO THE REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES BY APPLICANTS WHO VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE TO OBTAIN LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM PURSUANT TO SECTION 4503.59 OF THE REVISED CODE.

(B) IF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOCATED IN THIS STATE DESIRES TO HAVE ITS LOGO APPEAR ON LICENSE PLATES ISSUED BY THIS STATE, IT SHALL INFORM THE LARGEST CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM IS LOCATED OF THAT DESIRE. THAT CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU SHALL DESIGNATE A SPORTS COMMISSION OPERATING IN THAT COUNTY TO RECEIVE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE PAID BY APPLICANTS WHO CHOOSE TO BE ISSUED LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF THAT PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM FOR DISPLAY ON THEIR MOTOR VEHICLES. THE DESIGNATED SPORTS COMMISSION ALSO SHALL HAVE THE DUTIES OF NEGOTIATING WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM TO PERMIT THE DISPLAY OF THE TEAM'S LOGO ON LICENSE PLATES ISSUED BY THIS STATE, ENTERING INTO THE CONTRACT WITH THE TEAM TO PERMIT SUCH DISPLAY, AND PAYING TO THE TEAM ANY LICENSING OR RIGHTS FEE THAT MUST BE PAID IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSE PLATES. UPON EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT, THE SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE A COPY OF IT TO THE REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES, ALONG WITH ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION THE REGISTRAR MAY REQUIRE. UPON RECEIPT OF THE CONTRACT AND ANY REQUIRED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, AND WHEN THE NUMERICAL REQUIREMENT CONTAINED IN DIVISION (A) OF SECTION 4503.78 OF THE REVISED CODE HAS BEEN MET RELATIVE TO THAT PARTICULAR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM, THE REGISTRAR SHALL TAKE THE MEASURES NECESSARY TO ISSUE LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF THAT TEAM.

THE REGISTRAR SHALL PAY TO THE DESIGNATED SPORTS COMMISSION ALL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE PAID BY APPLICANTS WHO OBTAIN LICENSE PLATES THAT BEAR THE LOGOS OF PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF THE DESIGNATED SPORTS COMMISSION, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE COUNTY OF RESIDENCE OF AN APPLICANT.

(C) A SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL EXPEND THE MONEY IT RECEIVES UNDER THIS SECTION TO ATTRACT REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, COUNTY, OR TOWNSHIP IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED, AND IT MAY SPONSOR SUCH EVENTS. PRIOR TO ATTRACTING OR SPONSORING SUCH EVENTS, THE SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL PERFORM AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROPOSED EVENT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE ECONOMIC EFFECT ON THE GREATER AREA IN WHICH THE EVENT WILL BE HELD. A SPORTS COMMISSION SHALL NOT EXPEND ANY MONEY IT RECEIVES UNDER THIS SECTION TO ATTRACT OR SPONSOR A REGIONAL, NATIONAL, OR INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT IF ITS ECONOMIC ANALYSIS DOES NOT RESULT IN A FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED EVENT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE ECONOMIC EFFECT ON THE GREATER AREA IN WHICH THE EVENT WILL BE HELD.

A SPORTS COMMISSION THAT RECEIVES MONEY PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER DUTIES IMPOSED ON IT BY LAW AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE SCOPE OF THOSE DUTIES, ALSO SHALL ENCOURAGE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS STATE THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF TOURISM WITHIN ALL AREAS OF THIS STATE. A SPORTS COMMISSION THAT RECEIVES TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE DURING ANY CALENDAR YEAR PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER OF THE NEXT SUCCEEDING YEAR, DETAILING ITS EFFORTS AND EXPENDITURES IN THE PROMOTION OF TOURISM DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH IT RECEIVED THE TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE.

AS USED IN THIS DIVISION, "PROMOTION OF TOURISM" MEANS THE ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGH ADVERTISING, EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL MEANS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, BOTH WITHIN THE STATE AND OUTSIDE OF IT, OF TRAVEL BY PERSONS AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES FOR PLEASURE, PERSONAL REASONS, OR OTHER PURPOSES, EXCEPT TO WORK, TO THIS STATE OR TO THE REGION IN WHICH THE SPORTS COMMISSION IS LOCATED.

(D) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:

(1) THE "LARGEST" CONVENTION AND VISITOR'S BUREAU OF A COUNTY IS THE BUREAU THAT RECEIVES THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY GENERATED IN THAT COUNTY FROM EXCISE TAXES LEVIED ON LODGING TRANSACTIONS UNDER SECTIONS 351.021, 5739.02, AND 5739.024 OF THE REVISED CODE.

(2) "SPORTS COMMISSION" MEANS A LOCAL OR COUNTYWIDE NONPROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE THAT IS ENTITLED TO TAX EXEMPT STATUS UNDER SECTION 501(c)(3) OF THE "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 100 STAT. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, AS AMENDED, AND WHOSE FUNCTION IS TO ATTRACT, PROMOTE, OR SPONSOR SPORTS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS WITHIN A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, COUNTY, OR TOWNSHIP. A SPORTS COMMISSION MAY PROVIDE ALL SERVICES RELATED TO ATTRACTING, PROMOTING, OR SPONSORING SUCH EVENTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE BOOKING OF ATHLETES AND TEAMS, SCHEDULING, AND HIRING OR CONTRACTING FOR STAFF, USHERS, MANAGERS, AND OTHER PERSONS WHOSE FUNCTIONS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE SPORTS AND ATHLETIC EVENTS THE COMMISSION ATTRACTS, PROMOTES, OR SPONSORS. "SPORTS COMMISSION" INCLUDES A LOCAL OR COUNTYWIDE ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT NAMED A "SPORTS COMMISSION" BUT THAT PERFORMS THE SAME FUNCTIONS AS A SPORTS COMMISSION, IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS STATE, AND IS ENTITLED TO TAX EXEMPT STATUS UNDER SECTION 501(c)(3) OF THE "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 100 STAT. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 501, AS AMENDED.

Sec. 4503.59. (A) IF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOCATED IN THIS STATE DESIRES TO HAVE ITS LOGO APPEAR ON LICENSE PLATES ISSUED BY THIS STATE, IT SHALL ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE PROPER SPORTS COMMISSION TO PERMIT SUCH DISPLAY, AS PERMITTED IN SECTION 4501.31 OF THE REVISED CODE. THE OWNER OR LESSEE OF ANY PASSENGER CAR, NONCOMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE, RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, OR OTHER VEHICLE OF A CLASS APPROVED BY THE REGISTRAR MAY APPLY TO THE REGISTRAR FOR THE REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE AND ISSUANCE OF LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM THAT HAS ENTERED INTO SUCH A CONTRACT. THE APPLICATION SHALL DESIGNATE THE SPORTS TEAM WHOSE LOGO THE OWNER OR LESSEE DESIRES TO APPEAR ON THE LICENSE PLATES. FAILURE TO DESIGNATE A PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM SHALL RESULT IN REJECTION BY THE REGISTRAR OF THE REGISTRATION APPLICATION. AN APPLICATION MADE UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE COMBINED WITH A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE. UPON RECEIPT OF THE COMPLETED APPLICATION AND COMPLIANCE BY THE APPLICANT WITH DIVISIONS (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION, THE REGISTRAR SHALL ISSUE TO THE APPLICANT THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND A SET OF LICENSE PLATES BEARING THE LOGO OF THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM THE OWNER DESIGNATED IN THE APPLICATION AND A VALIDATION STICKER, OR A VALIDATION STICKER ALONE WHEN REQUIRED BY SECTION 4503.191 OF THE REVISED CODE.

IN ADDITION TO THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS ORDINARILY INSCRIBED THEREON, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES SHALL BEAR THE LOGO OF A PARTICIPATING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM, AND SHALL DISPLAY COUNTY IDENTIFICATION STICKERS THAT IDENTIFY THE COUNTY OF REGISTRATION BY NAME OR NUMBER.

(B) THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOGO LICENSE PLATES AND VALIDATION STICKER, OR VALIDATION STICKER ALONE, AS THE CASE MAY BE, SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR LICENSE TAX AS PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.04 OF THE REVISED CODE, ANY APPLICABLE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAX LEVIED UNDER CHAPTER 4504. OF THE REVISED CODE, A FEE OF TEN DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPENSATING THE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES, AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS RELATING TO THE REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES. IF THE APPLICATION FOR A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LOGO LICENSE PLATE IS COMBINED WITH A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE, THE LICENSE PLATES AND VALIDATION STICKER, OR VALIDATION STICKER ALONE, SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR LICENSE TAX AS PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.04 OF THE REVISED CODE, ANY APPLICABLE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX LEVIED UNDER CHAPTER 4504. OF THE REVISED CODE, A FEE OF TEN DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPENSATING THE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES, THE ADDITIONAL FEE PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE, AND COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS RELATING TO THE REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

(C) FOR EACH APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION RENEWAL NOTICE THE REGISTRAR RECEIVES UNDER THIS SECTION, THE REGISTRAR SHALL COLLECT A CONTRIBUTION OF TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS. THE REGISTRAR SHALL TRANSMIT THIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE TREASURER OF STATE FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE STATE TREASURY FOR DISTRIBUTION AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 4501.31 OF THE REVISED CODE.

THE REGISTRAR SHALL TRANSMIT THE ADDITIONAL FEE OF TEN DOLLARS PAID TO COMPENSATE THE BUREAU FOR THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM LICENSE PLATES TO THE TREASURER OF STATE FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE STATE TREASURY TO THE CREDIT OF THE STATE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FUND CREATED BY SECTION 4501.25 OF THE REVISED CODE.