HB 1016 Summary

• Establishes the northwest Indiana professional sports development commission with 19 members including mayors of seven cities, county commissioners and council members from Lake, Porter, LaPorte, and St. Joseph counties, and state representatives from transportation, economic development, and the governor's office.

• Authorizes the commission to study plans and recommendations for attracting professional sports franchises (including football leagues established before 1930, baseball leagues established before 1910, basketball associations established before 1960, North American hockey leagues operating since 1924, and soccer leagues established in 1993).

• Requires the commission to prepare and implement a comprehensive master plan for building facilities and infrastructure necessary to attract and develop professional sports franchises in northwest Indiana.

• Creates the professional sports development fund consisting of general assembly appropriations, grants, gifts, donations, and interest, which the commission administers and may expend only to accomplish purposes of the chapter.

• Effective July 1, 2016.