SB 1710 Summary

• Establishes the Southern Arizona Sports, Tourism and Film Authority as a separate governmental entity consisting of Greenlee, Graham, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pima and Pinal counties.

• Creates a 13-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House, including representatives from county government, sports, tourism, film, workforce development, and Indian tribes.

• Authorizes the Authority to acquire, construct, and operate sports facilities, recreational facilities, and multipurpose facilities, and to issue revenue bonds for these purposes with maturity up to 30 years.

• Establishes financial oversight requirements including annual budgets, independent audits within 120 days of fiscal year end, and performance audits beginning in 2027 and every five years thereafter.

• Appropriates $750,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Office of Tourism for funding the Authority, with the appropriation exempt from lapsing provisions.