This bill amends section 13-2706 of the Civic and Community Center Financing Act to modify the eligibility requirements and authorized amounts for grants of assistance. It specifies that municipalities that have received grants under the Sports Arena Facility Financing Assistance Act or the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act are ineligible for additional state assistance for the same projects. Notably, the bill introduces a new eligibility criterion that requires municipalities to partner with a certified creative district to qualify for grants from July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2028. The bill also emphasizes that preference will be given to municipalities partnered with certified creative districts when awarding grants.

Additionally, the bill establishes that the Nebraska Arts Council will set the amounts for grants, which will not be less than $100,000, and the department will coordinate with the Council for this purpose. The provisions regarding the partnership with certified creative districts will expire after June 30, 2028. The original section 13-2706 is repealed, indicating a complete overhaul of the existing legal framework concerning grant assistance under the Civic and Community Center Financing Act.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13-2706