Marvin Mandel, Governor                         481

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Sections 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150,
151, 152, 152A, 152B, 152C, 152D, 152E, 152F, 152G, 152H, 152I,
152-I AND 152J and 152K be and they are hereby added to Article 41
of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1971 Replacement Volume),
title "Governor—Executive and Administrative Departments," safe-
title "Department of Legislative Reference," to follow immediately
after Section 140 thereof, to be under the new subtitle "Maryland
Sports Complex Authority," and to read as follows:

[DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE]

MARYLAND SPORTS COMPLEX AUTHORITY
141. Short title.

This subtitle shall be known as the "Maryland Sports Complex
Authority Act."

142. Declaration of legislative findings and policy.

After much study by the State of Maryland, the General Assembly
finds that professional sports add to the economy, the culture and
the vitality of Baltimore City, the Greater Baltimore Region and the
entire State of Maryland. In addition to the revenues directly pro-
duced from activities at the stadium in which athletic contests and
events are held, there are additional revenues derived, directly and
indirectly, from such activities. Professional sports stimulate tour-
ism and familiarize people from all parts of the country with the
advantages of the Baltimore metropolitan area and with Maryland
generally. Professional sports stimulate business and provide exten-
sive employment opportunities, not merely for the athletes and per-
sonnel directly involved in the sports enterprise but for thousands of
other Marylanders. Professional sports also provide the citizens
of this State with a great deal of enjoyment and recreation in watch-
ing athletic contests. Because of these public benefits, it is the policy
of the State of Maryland to encourage and assist the retention of
professional sports activities in the Baltimore metropolitan area, and
to authorize the operators, owners or lessees of professional athletic
facilities to have the advantage of revenues in the environs of such
athletic sites to help defray the costs of constructing, maintaining
and operating the facilities. In order to implement this policy, it is
in the public interest to establish a State agency, to be known as
the "Maryland Sports Complex Authority," to acquire and/or con-
struct athletic facilities and other revenue producing facilities in the
vicinity thereof, and to regulate the same.

14.3. Definitions.

(a)  As used in this subtitle, the words and terms listed in this
Section SECTION shall have the meanings indicated unless the con-
text indicates another or different meaning or intent:

(b)  "Authority" means the Maryland Sports Complex Authority
created by Section 144 of this Article or any board, body, commis-
sion, agency or officer succeeding to the principal functions thereof.

(c)  "Facility" or "facilities" shall include stadiums, arenas or
other areas for the holding of athletic contests, practice fields or