1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to sports facilities; assisting the Minnesota 
  1.3             Twins in developing a private financing plan for a 
  1.4             stadium modeled after the financing for the new 
  1.5             Pacific Bell ballpark constructed by the San Francisco 
  1.6             Giants; expanding duties of the metropolitan sports 
  1.7             facilities commission; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.8             2000, section 473.556, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  [PURPOSE; FINDING.] 
  1.11     The legislature finds that the Minnesota Twins major league 
  1.12  baseball team is an important community asset and is highly 
  1.13  valued by the people of Minnesota.  The Minnesota Twins and 
  1.14  major league baseball are demanding a new stadium for the team.  
  1.15  However, the owner of the Minnesota Twins has not offered a 
  1.16  private financing package, but is requesting public subsidies 
  1.17  for construction of a new stadium. 
  1.18     In order to help the Minnesota Twins obtain a new ballpark, 
  1.19  the metropolitan sports facilities commission shall assist the 
  1.20  owner of the Minnesota Twins in developing a private financing 
  1.21  plan for a stadium modeled after the financing used for the new 
  1.22  Pacific Bell ballpark constructed by the San Francisco Giants. 
  1.23     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 473.556, is 
  1.24  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.25     Subd. 18.  [BASEBALL PARK.] (a) The commission shall 
  1.26  provide assistance and advice to the owner of the Minnesota 
  1.27  Twins on developing a private financing package for construction 
  2.1   of a new baseball park.  The commission's efforts may include 
  2.2   facilitating meetings between the owner of the Minnesota Twins 
  2.3   and representatives of the San Francisco Giants and financial 
  2.4   experts involved in the financial planning of the privately 
  2.5   financed Pacific Bell ballpark.  The commission may also 
  2.6   facilitate meetings between the Minnesota Twins and the local 
  2.7   business community. 
  2.8      (b) The commission shall assist the owner of the Minnesota 
  2.9   Twins in securing an appropriate site for the team to purchase 
  2.10  or lease for the baseball park. 
  2.11     Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.12     Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final 
  2.13  enactment.