S.20.1-5: Regional Sport Act (RSA) (Statute)

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Section 1 (Title)
i. The title of this Act shall be, the "Kobe Bryant Southern Basketball Scholarship Act"
Section 2 (Regional scholarship)
i. In honor of the late Kobe Bryant, a national icon, a scholarship program shall be created to provide $5,000 each to well-qualified high-school students, with GPAs of 3.0 or above, who participate in basketball in an organized setting in or outside of school.
ii. $500 million will be appropriated to this program, with additional funding accorded to the program through a public-private partnership by charitable donations and coordination with non-governmental organizations.
iii. $25 million in block grants shall be provided for the construction of basketball courts and for P.E. equipment in under-performing school districts.
iv. The $500 million described in section 2, part ii shall be a recurrent cost annually. The $25 million cost detailed in part iii shall not be.

Sponsor: Spark498

[Senator-elect Spark]

Section 1 (Title)
i. The title of this Act shall be, the "Regional Sport Act (RSA)."

Section 2 (Regional sport)
i. The regional sport of the Southern region shall be basketball.

Section 3 (Regional day)
i. In honor of the late Kobe Bryant, a national icon, January 26th shall be designated as Kobe Bryant Day.
ii. During this day, the flag of the South shall be flown at half staff in remembrance.

Sponsor: Spark498

I am sponsoring this bill and choosing to introduce this legislation because to my knowledge, the South does not have a regional sport. Due to Bryant being a national icon, we should honor him.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I have nothing against Kobe but I don't think basketball of all sports ought to be elevated above all others and become our single regional sport. I do like the thought of honoring Kobe, I just think the bill in its present form isn't perfect or desirable because of its other elements.

[West_Midlander]

I have nothing against Kobe but I don't think basketball of all sports ought to be elevated above all others and become our single regional sport. I do like the thought of honoring Kobe, I just think the bill in its present form isn't perfect or desirable because of its other elements.

I agree with the Speaker's comments and I think we should consider that Kobe was not a Southerner so a regional day for him might be a bit out of place.

Lowering the region's flags to half-mast may have been appropriate via executive order on the date of Kobe's death (though I was not Governor then). However, as Kobe was not a Southerner, I do not feel this (lowering the region's flags) should be necessary as an annual occurrence (in the form of a regional holiday).

I share the Speaker's sentiment that basketball would probably not be the best choice for a regional sport for the South, if one is chosen at all.

[Senator-elect Spark]

I am open to modifications of the bill.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I am open to modifications of the bill.

Perhaps we could create a region-funded scholarship to promising young athletes named after Kobe Bryant.

[Senator-elect Spark]

I am open to modifications of the bill.

Perhaps we could create a region-funded scholarship to promising young athletes named after Kobe Bryant.

I can support that revision.

[West_Midlander]

I am open to modifications of the bill.

Perhaps we could create a region-funded scholarship to promising young athletes named after Kobe Bryant.

I can support that revision.

Sounds like a plan!

[reagente]

I'm not sold on the idea of having an official regional sport to begin with, but surely if the South were to have a regional sport it would be football, not basketball?

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

I'm not sold on the idea of having an official regional sport to begin with, but surely if the South were to have a regional sport it would be football, not basketball?

Embrace Aussie Rules! The one true code of Football!

[PragmaticPopulist]

While I agree that Kobe Bryant was a legend, and must be recognized as such, if the south is to have an official regional sport, it should be jousting or fencing!

[West_Midlander]

I have posted a poll on if we should have a regional sport (and if so what) to my public office.

[West_Midlander]

I have posted a poll on if we should have a regional sport (and if so what) to my public office.

The Southern public seems divided on which specific regional sport should be chosen if one is chosen.

As a result, I omitted mention of a regional sport from the following amendment I wrote:

Section 1 (Title)
i. The title of this Act shall be, the "Regional Sport Act (RSA).Kobe Bryant Southern Basketball Scholarship Act"

Section 2 (Regional sport)
i. The regional sport of the Southern region shall be basketball.
Section 3 (Regional day)
i. In honor of the late Kobe Bryant, a national icon, January 26th shall be designated as Kobe Bryant Day.
ii. During this day, the flag of the South shall be flown at half staff in remembrance.
Section 2 (Regional scholarship)
i. In honor of the late Kobe Bryant, a national icon, a scholarship program shall be created to provide $5,000 each to well-qualified high-school students, with GPAs of 3.0 or above, who participate in basketball in an organized setting in or outside of school.
ii. $500 million will be appropriated to this program, with additional funding accorded to the program through a public-private partnership by charitable donations and coordination with non-governmental organizations.
iii. $25 million in block grants shall be provided for the construction of basketball courts and for P.E. equipment in under-performing school districts.
iv. The $500 million described in section 2, part ii shall be a recurrent cost annually. The $25 million cost detailed in part iii shall not be.

I would like to be added as a co-sponsor to this bill and I invite the Delegates of this Chamber to amend this amendment as they see fit (if this amendment is passed).

Note: I put the "in an organized setting in or outside of school" portion so this scholarship program cannot be taken advantage of by those who play basketball on occasion in an informal setting. The implication in my amendment's language is an official team setting being a requirement, ie. dedication to the sport.

Also: This amendment is heavily based on the Pacific Ensure our Future Act from 2015.

[West_Midlander]

I would like the Speaker to either:

A) Officially open the floor to objections on this amendment (or)

B) Declare this amendment taken up as more than 24 hours (nearly 48 hours, now) have passed without objection

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

The amendment has been taken up due to lack of objections.

[West_Midlander]

I was looking through old legislation and noticed, to my surprise, that the South already has a regional sport.

4.) The sport of competitive cheerleading is hereby proclaimed the official sport of the Southern Region.

Source

[West_Midlander]

I would like any of the Delegates to motion for a final vote unless any Delegate(s) have more to say on this bill.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Mr. Speaker, I motion for a vote.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Mr. Speaker, I motion for a vote.

I second the motion.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Final vote. 48 hours.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Aye

[Senator-elect Spark]

Aye

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Aye

[reagente]

Abstain

[PragmaticPopulist]

Aye