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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to provisions in agreements between governmental entities |
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and professional sports teams requiring the United States national |
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anthem to be played at team events. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 10, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 2274 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 2274. AGREEMENTS WITH PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS |
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Sec. 2274.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Governmental entity" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 2251.001. |
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(2) "Professional sports team" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 2004.002, Occupations Code. The term includes |
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a wholly owned subsidiary, majority-owned subsidiary, parent |
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company, or affiliate of a professional sports team that exists to |
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make a profit. |
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(3) "Sporting event" means any preseason, regular |
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season, or postseason game of a professional sports team. |
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Sec. 2274.002. PROVISIONS REQUIRED IN CERTAIN AGREEMENTS. |
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A governmental entity may not enter into an agreement with a |
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professional sports team that requires a financial commitment by |
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this state or any governmental entity unless the agreement |
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includes: |
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(1) a written verification that the professional |
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sports team will play the United States national anthem at the |
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beginning of each team sporting event held at the team's home venue |
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or other facility controlled by the team for the event; and |
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(2) a provision providing that failure to comply with |
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the written verification required by Subdivision (1) for any team |
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sporting event at the team's home venue or other facility: |
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(A) constitutes a default of the agreement; |
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(B) immediately subjects the team to any penalty |
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the agreement authorizes for default, which may include requiring |
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the team to repay any money paid to the team by this state or any |
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governmental entity or classifying the team as ineligible to |
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receive further money under the agreement; and |
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(C) may subject the team to debarment from |
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contracting with this state. |
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Sec. 2274.003. STRICT ADHERENCE TO DEFAULT PROVISION. (a) |
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A governmental entity that enters into an agreement with a |
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professional sports team shall strictly adhere to the default |
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provision required by Section 2274.002(2). |
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(b) If a governmental entity fails to timely adhere to the |
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default provision required under Section 2274.002(2), the attorney |
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general may intervene to enforce the provision. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |