4142402 Resolution 19-770, “State Athletic Activities, Programs, and Office Fund Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2012”

A RESOLUTION

19-770

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

December 18, 2012

 

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to establish the State Athletic Activities, Programs, and Office Fund for the deposit of funds generated by sponsorships, advertisements, and fees related to state athletic activities and programs.

 

 

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “State Athletic Activities, Programs, and Office Fund Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2012”.

 

Sec. 2. (a)  Throughout the school year, District educational institutions conduct extracurricular activities to enrich the lives of our young people.  Ongoing fiscal challenges throughout the District government often prevent beneficial programs and events from achieving their potential due to a lack of funding.  The District benefits from having numerous residents and corporate citizens who are willing to support the District’s youth by funding shortfalls in these critical programs, particularly in an athletic context. 

 (b) Due to longstanding restrictions against commercial advertising involving District property, sponsorships may not be solicited or accepted as a donation absent specific legislative authority. 

(c)  There is precedent for this type of public-private partnership initiative.  In 2011, the Council approved a sponsorship for the District’s premier high school football game, the Turkey Bowl.  In the Department of Parks and Recreation Revenue Generation Amendment Act of 2011, effective September 14, 2011 (D.C. Law 9-21; 58 DCR 6628), the Council authorized the Department of Parks and Recreation (“DPR”) to contract for advertisements and sponsorships for facilities within the DPR inventory.

(d)  The proposed legislation would create a special fund, the State Athletic Activities, Programs, and Office Fund (“Fund”) to be used to enhance the development of state interscholastic athletic programs and competitions and to supplement the operations budget of the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (“DCSAA”).   The Statewide Director of Athletics will prioritize resources from the Fund to ensure well-designed and effective interscholastic athletic programs and competitions throughout the District of Columbia.

(e) The Fund will be used for the financial support of state athletic programs and competitions, including for championship events, equipment, memorabilia, training, security, awards, and related operations, to ensure well-designed and effective state athletic programs and events that comply with the standards of the National Federation of State High School Associations and with District of Columbia laws and regulations.

(f) Creation of the Fund on an emergency basis will allow the DCSAA to immediately accept resources to benefit District students for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year.

 

            Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the State Athletic Activities, Programs, and Office Fund Emergency Act of 2012 be adopted after a single reading.

 

            Sec. 4.  This resolution shall take effect immediately.