Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL                                             H.B. 551
Approved for Filing: E.N. Weeks 6
         6 02-14-24 10:23 AM 6
                      OLYMPIC PUBLIC FUNDING REQUIREMENTS
                                      2024 GENERAL SESSION
                                           STATE OF UTAH
                                  Chief Sponsor: Brett Garner
                                 Senate Sponsor: ____________
 6
 LONG TITLE
 General Description:
        This bill addresses the use of public money by certain entities involved with the
 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
 Highlighted Provisions:
        This bill:
        < defines terms; and
        < requires the governor to ensure terms regarding the use of public money are
 included in agreements concerning the state's hosting of the Olympic and
 Paralympic Winter Games.
 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
        None
 Other Special Clauses:
        None
 Utah Code Sections Affected:
 AMENDS:
        63G-28-101, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 14
        63G-28-401, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 14
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                                                                                                H.B. 551
 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
        Section 1. Section 63G-28-101 is amended to read:
     *HB0551*
       H.B. 551                                                                     02-14-24 10:23 AM
        63G-28-101. Definitions.
        As used in this chapter:
        (1) "Games" means the 2030 or 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
        (2) "Games committee" means the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
 Coordination Committee created in Section 63G-28-201.
        (3) "Host agreement" means an agreement with a site selection committee that is made
 in connection with the selection of the state for the location of the games.
        (4) "Host assurance" means a written assurance to a site selection committee that is
 made in connection with the selection of the state for the location of the games.
        (5) "Host committee" means a nonprofit corporation, including a successor in interest,
 that may:
        (a) provide an application and bid to a site selection committee for selection of the state
 as the location of the games; and
        (b) execute an agreement with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee
 regarding a bid and the bid process to host the games.
        (6) "Public money" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-1-101.5.
        (7) "Site selection committee" means the International Olympic Committee or the
 International Paralympic Committee.
        [(7)] (8) "State security" means a financial obligation undertaken by the state under a
 host agreement.
        Section 2. Section 63G-28-401 is amended to read:
        63G-28-401. Governor authority to execute host agreement -- Legislative notice.
        (1) Subject to Subsection (3), the governor may:
        (a) enter into a host agreement on behalf of the state that provides:
        (i) state security for:
        (A) amounts owed by the state to a site selection committee for claims by third parties
 arising out of or relating to the games; and
        (B) a financial deficit accruing to the state as a result of hosting the games; and
        (ii) other terms necessary for the state to host the games; and
        (b) make a host assurance on behalf of the state that is necessary for the state to host
 the games.
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       02-14-24 10:23 AM                                                                      H.B. 551
        (2) The state security under a host agreement may not be paid until after:
        (a) any security provided by the host committee or another person is expended and
 exhausted; and
        (b) the limits of any available insurance policy are expended and exhausted.
        (3) The governor shall:
        (a) ensure a host agreement includes:
        (i) a requirement that a signatory of the host agreement mitigate damages if the
 signatory breaches the host agreement;
        (ii) a provision allowing the state to terminate the host agreement for another
 signatory's unlawful activity; [and]
        (iii) other provisions that protect:
        (A) the state against liability under the host agreement; and
        (B) the state's financial assets; [and]
        (iv) provisions prohibiting the site selection committee or the host committee from
 using public money:
        (A) to provide a gift with a value of over $300 to another person;
        (B) to make a political campaign contribution;
        (C) for the personal expenses of another person; or
        (D) for other purposes unrelated to the games;
        (v) a provision that the site selection committee and host committee shall, upon
 request, provide, to the governor or a member of the games committee, an itemized accounting
 of the public money provided to the site selection committee or host committee; and
        (vi) a provision allowing the state to bring a civil action to recoup any public money
 used for a purpose prohibited under the agreement; and
        (b) provide a copy of a host agreement or host assurance to the games committee and
 the Legislative Management Committee at least 72 hours before entering into the host
 agreement or making the host assurance.
        Section 3. Effective date.
        This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.
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Statutes affected: 
Introduced: 63G-28-101, 63G-28-401