BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1270
86R7080 BEE-D	By: Watson
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	4/1/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Major Events Reimbursement Program (MERP) applies local and state tax revenue from sales and use, auto rental, hotel, and alcoholic beverage taxes from certain statutorily named events to help pay for certain costs incurred from hosting the event.

To be eligible for the MERP, an event must be included in statute, though that event must also be approved by the host city or county and the Office of the Governor (governor's office) in order to take part in the MERP.

More than 30 specific events are currently eligible for the MERP, including the Super Bowl, various professional and college sports playoffs, Olympic events, the Breeders Cup, the Moto Grand Prix, and political events including national party conventions and presidential debates.

The International World Exhibition & Festival Organization (IWEFO), which endorses only world-class touring exhibitions, would like to bring to Texas the Nelson Mandela: My Life exhibition. It is the only touring exhibition officially sanctioned by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

S.B. 1270 adds events recognized by IWEFO to the list of events that qualify to participate in the Major Events Reimbursement Program. The event must also be approved by the host city or county and the governor's office to take part in the MERP. Adding IWEFO to the statute would also allow future world-class exhibitions, such as Queen Elizabeth - The Windsor Paintings, to come to Texas.

As proposed, S.B. 1270 amends current law relating to the eligibility of certain exhibitions and festivals to receive funding through the Major Events Reimbursement Program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 5A(a)(4) and (5), Chapter 1507 (S.B. 456), Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999 (Article 5190.14, V.T.C.S.), as follows:

(4) Redefines "event" to include a world-renowned exhibition or festival that is recognized by the International World Exhibition & Festival Organization.

(5) Redefines "site selection organization" to include the International World Exhibition & Festival Organization and redesignates the following paragraphs accordingly.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.