PHOENIX — A bill that would create a new state authority focused on tourism, film making and sports in southern Arizona has made its way out of the state Senate and is now under consideration in the House.
Senate Bill 1710 — titled the Sports; tourism; film authority; appropriation bill — was introduced by state Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista.
Under the bill, the authority would focus solely on six counties — Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal and Santa Cruz — and board members must reside in those counties.
One board member each would represent the governments of the counties, with the governor appointing two, the Senate president appointing two and the Speaker of the House appointing two.
Three board members would represent tribes in the counties, with one appointment each by the governor, speaker and Senate president.
The final four board members have to represent specific sectors — one has to have experience in youth and professional sports, one with experience in the tourism and hospitality industry, one with experience in the film and digital media industry, and one with experience in workforce development. The governor will appoint two, with the speaker and Senate president appointing one each.
No board members may simultaneously serve on the board and hold elected office.
Under the bill, the state will appropriate $500,000 to the new authority to use for its mission; however the authority will also have the ability to issue bonds to raise capital, as well as acquire land via eminent domain.
The authority may also hire an executive director and, as detailed in the bill, “Construct, finance, furnish, improve, operate, market and promote the use of a multipurpose facility that is located in the Authority and do all the things necessary or convenient to accomplish those purposes. The Authority may own or lease the land on which the multipurpose facility is located.”
The bill passed out of the Senate by a 23-6-1 vote, with all six opposition votes cast by Republicans. One senator, a Democrat, did not cast a vote.
The bill was introduced in the House and assigned to the Rules and Appropriations committees for hearings.
