JEFFERSON CITY—The General Assembly gave final approval today to Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, the first piece of legislation sent to the governor for the 2013 session. The bill creates a tax incentive to attract more amateur sporting events to Missouri in an effort to support local businesses across the state.

Under the bill, $5 from every ticket sold to a qualifying event would go towards an incentive to offset the costs local organizations incur while attracting amateur sporting events, such as the NCAA basketball tournament and Olympic trials, to their area.

The bill would prohibit the incentive from exceeding $3 million in a fiscal year. Since the measure is based on tickets sold, every community in Missouri could utilize the incentive to bring more amateur sporting events to their area.

“For years, Missouri was a premier location to hold national amateur sporting events. But as other states saw the benefits of hosting these events, they became very proactive at drawing them to their areas,” said Sen. Schmitt. “Passage of this bill gives Missouri a chance to reestablish itself as a competitive player again in bidding for these events.”

For more information on Sen. Schmitt’s sponsored legislation, visit his Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/schmitt.