S 0904 General Bill, By Courson
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 51-1-35 so as to establish the South Carolina Sports Development Office within
 the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and to provide for its
 functions, duties, and responsibilities.

   11/22/93  Senate Prefiled
   11/22/93  Senate Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
   01/11/94  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-34
   01/11/94  Senate Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry SJ-34
   02/01/94  Senate Recalled from Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry SJ-4
   02/01/94  Senate Committed to Committee on Finance SJ-4

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 51-1-35 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTS DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM, AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 51-1-35. (A) The South Carolina Sports Development Office is created as a division within the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The office shall have the following functions, duties, and responsibilities:

(1) increase the amount of sporting events in the State of South Carolina directly and by assisting other state agencies involved in similar endeavors;

(2) assist in bringing in new sports training facilities, sports franchises, and sports-related conferences into South Carolina;

(3) act as a liaison between the public and the sporting events that will take place within the State;

(4) develop a database to be used to facilitate the development of sporting events by matching sponsors, locations, and organizers, and a database to have information on sporting events, both amateur and professional, that are scheduled in the State;

(5) distribute relevant sports activity information, including information from the databases, to the media, visitor centers, and others who are engaged in promoting the State;

(6) recruit nonresident sports teams, entities, and individuals to conduct their training in South Carolina;

(7) develop a research system to determine the economic impact of sports events held in South Carolina and develop a profile of the spectators of sports events in the State; and

(8) advise the Governor, the Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the Director of the Department of Commerce, and other appropriate state and local officials on sports-related issues.

(B) The Sports Development Office shall have that staff, equipment, and property as provided for by the General Assembly in the annual general appropriations act."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.