Bill to lure Chicago Bears to Indiana moves to final reading
A bill aimed at attracting the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana is one step closer to passing onto the Senate after the Indiana House approved its second reading Monday.
The House will hear House Bill 1292 in its third reading at a later date.
House Bill 1292 — authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago — would establish a Northwest Indiana professional development commission and a professional sports development fund.
The commission would study various plans and recommendations to attract a professional sports franchise to the region, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. The commission would also prepare a comprehensive master plan for building facilities and other infrastructure.
If the bill is passed, the commission will be made up of 19 members, including mayors from East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, LaPorte, Portage and South Bend. Remaining members would be appointed by people including the executive director of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, the governor and leaders in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties.
Once established, the commission would be able to enter agreements or contracts for grants or appropriations from federal, state, and local governments, individuals, foundations or other organizations, according to Post-Tribune archives. It would also be able to operate, own, manage or lease property.
The commission would spend money from the professional sports development fund, which would be funded through general assembly appropriations, grants, gifts and donations. The money from the fund can't be reverted to another fund.
The Bears are looking for a new home, so Harris has previously said they're the main target for this bill. However, the commission would explore any professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer teams.
On Feb. 11, the House Ways and Means Committee amended the bill to remove language about not paying any state employee on the commission travel expenses and non-state employee commissioners the minimum salary per diem and reimbursement for travel outlined in state code, according to Post-Tribune archives.
The committee also removed language allowing the commission to hire an executive director and carry out commission duties.
Harris' father, who served as a state representative before him, filed similar legislation when he was in office to bring a sports franchise to Northwest Indiana. The 2015 legislation, House Bill 1376, died in the Ways and Means committee, according to the Indiana General Assembly website.
Harris' mother — former Rep. Donna Harris, D-East Chicago — in 2016 created House Bill 1016 that would create a professional sports development commission. Donna Harris' bill died in the House Ways and Means committee, according to the Indiana General Assembly website.
House Bill 1292 is co-authored by Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Logansport; Rep. Tim O'Brien, R-Evansville; and Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart.
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