September 12, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Drolet, Moore, Ward, Gosselin, Palmer, Baxter and Hoogendyk and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
A bill to amend 1991 PA 180, entitled
"An act to assist in the financing of stadia or convention
facilities; to permit eligible municipalities to impose and collect
an excise tax on businesses engaged in the preparation and delivery
of food and beverages for immediate consumption, in leasing or
renting motor vehicles in the eligible municipality, and in
providing accommodations for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping
purposes; to limit the rate of that excise tax; to authorize voter
approval in a single ballot question of the excise tax authorized
by this act and of certain purposes for which the excise tax is
imposed; to provide for the establishment of procedures for the
collection, administration, and enforcement of the excise tax; to
prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments and
state and local officials; to provide for the disposition and
transmittal of the revenues from the tax for stadia or convention
facility development and other purposes and authorize the pledge of
those revenues; to authorize the appointment of employees and
officials of a local governmental unit to an authority to which
revenues from the tax may be pledged; to prescribe penalties and
provide remedies; and to repeal certain acts and parts of acts,"
(MCL 207.751 to 207.759) by amending the title and by adding
section 7a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
TITLE
An act to assist in the financing of stadia or convention
facilities; to permit eligible municipalities to impose and collect
an excise tax on businesses engaged in the preparation and delivery
of food and beverages for immediate consumption, in leasing or
renting motor vehicles in the eligible municipality, and in
providing accommodations for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping
purposes; to limit the rate of that excise tax; to authorize voter
approval in a single ballot question of the excise tax authorized
by this act and of certain purposes for which the excise tax is
imposed; to provide for the establishment of procedures for the
collection, administration, and enforcement of the excise tax; to
prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments and
state and local officials; to provide for the disposition and
transmittal of the revenues from the tax for stadia or convention
facility development and other purposes and authorize the pledge of
those revenues; to impose requirements on certain entities that
own, operate, or lease stadia that receive public funding; to
authorize the appointment of employees and officials of a local
governmental unit to an authority to which revenues from the tax
may be pledged; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to
repeal certain
acts and parts of acts.
Sec. 7a. (1) An entity that owns, operates, or leases a sports
stadium for which 20% or more of the construction costs or 20% or
more of the annual operating expenses are derived from state or
local taxes or from state or local tax-exempt bonds shall not
prohibit a patron attending a sporting event from carrying or
displaying a sign or message unless the sign or message is 1 or
more of the following:
(a) Displayed in a manner that obstructs any other
individual's view of the sporting event.
(b) Obscene or pornographic.
(c) A safety hazard because of its size or construction.
(d) Occupying space beyond the area that the patron is
authorized to occupy.
(2) An entity that violates subsection (1) is responsible for
all of the following:
(a) Actual damages to the individual who is prevented from
carrying or displaying the sign or message or liquidated damages of
$100.00.
(b) Costs and reasonable attorney fees.
(c) A civil fine of $500.00.