In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``California Forest 
Ecosystems Health Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Ecosystem management plans for National Forest System lands in 
                            California.
Sec. 5. Process for full implementation of ecosystem management plans.
Sec. 6. Research and monitoring program.
Sec. 7. Miscellaneous requirements.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Although people have had an active part in the 
        development and maintenance of forest structure and the 
        condition of the National Forest System lands in the State of 
        California for many years, recent forest management policies 
        have often resulted in a degeneration of the forest structure 
        and a loss of forest health and vigor.
            (2) The Forest Service, through the judicious use of 
        ecosystem management, has an opportunity to reverse these 
        forest management policies and restore the health and vigor of 
        National Forest System lands in California.
            (3) Ecosystems are dynamic and in a state of constant 
        change, and it is not possible to preserve a given ecosystem 
        condition in a static state over a period of time.
            (4) The many and varied resources and uses of National 
        Forest System lands provide both tangible and intangible 
        benefits to the people of the United States.
            (5) Although management of National Forest System lands in 
        California has traditionally placed first priority on the need 
        to produce maximum volumes of timber, the other multiple forest 
        resources and services are equally important to the people of 
        California and the United States.
            (6) Ecosystem management must balance the needs of outdoor 
        recreation, range, timber, watershed, fish, and wildlife, as 
        required by the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (16 
        U.S.C. 528 et seq.), as well as protect soil and air quality 
        and provide for forest research.
            (7) National Forest System lands in California include some 
        of the most unique forest ecosystems in the world, including 
        giant sequoias, coastal redwoods, and bristlecone pines.
            (8) Destructive forest fires classified by the Forest 
        Service as ``intense'' have occurred in unprecedented numbers 
        and size on the National Forest System lands in California in 
        recent years, and these fires pose a threat to the very health 
        of the forests and present a danger to human life and property.
            (9) The Forest Service, through the judicious use of 
        ecosystem management, has an opportunity to reduce the 
        likelihood that fires classified as ``intense'' will occur with 
        such frequency and, at the same time, to improve forest vigor 
        and visitor safety.
            (10) Ecosystem management that considers the needs of all 
        species and their ability to interact with the presence of 
        humans can integrate both the conservation needs of the many 
        species of the ecosystems and the multiple use activities of 
        humans.
            (11) Identification of sound management options is both a 
        biological issue and a social issue, and the resulting 
        management policies must be socially acceptable, ecologically 
        sustainable, scientifically sound, legally responsible, and 
        economically viable.
            (12) The results of management practices in local 
        ecosystems can have a profound effect on the levels of demand 
        for commodity outputs from other ecosystems around the world.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Adaptive management.--The term ``adaptive management'' 
        means the experimental and monitored application of 
        scientifically derived management decisions to gain knowledge 
        that is then used to improve subsequent management decisions.
            (2) Ecosystem.--The term ``ecosystem'' means a community of 
        organisms and its environment that functions as a unit.
            (3) Ecosystem management.--The term ``ecosystem 
        management'' means the integration of ecological, economic, and 
        social factors to meet the biological needs of all associated 
        organisms and human needs through diverse, healthy, and 
        productive ecosystems, addressing resource supply, 
        conservation, and demand as opposed to a strategy for managing 
        individual species.
            (4) Ecosystem management plans.--The terms ``ecosystem 
        management plans'' and ``plans'' mean the ecosystem management 
        plans for National Forest System lands in the State of 
        California required to be developed by section 4(a).
            (5) National forest system.--The term ``National Forest 
        System'' has the meaning given that term in section 11(a) of 
        the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 
        1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).
            (6) Seral stages.--The term ``seral stages'' means the 
        various age or life stages of a vegetative community as it 
        progresses from initial establishment toward a climax stage or 
        equilibrium.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture.
            (8) Stand.--The term ``stand'' means an area within a 
        forest where the trees have similar characteristics with 
        respect to species composition, size, condition, and age.
            (9) Vigor.--The term ``vigor'', with respect to forest 
        ecosystems, means the relative health of stands of trees and 
        related vegetation, including their actual growth rates as 
        compared with potential growth rates and their ability to 
        protect themselves naturally from forest pests, diseases, and 
        the effects of natural disaster.

SEC. 4. ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS IN 
              CALIFORNIA.

    (a) Plans Required.--Notwithstanding the planning provisions of 
section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act 
of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604), the Secretary of Agriculture shall develop 
and implement ecosystem management plans pursuant to this Act to 
develop and demonstrate ecosystem management, including adaptive 
management techniques, for National Forest System lands described in 
subsection (b).
    (b) Federal Lands Covered by Plans.--The ecosystem management plans 
required by subsection (a) shall apply to all management units of the 
National Forest System located in the State of California. In the case 
of National Forest System lands in California that have been designated 
by law for special management before the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall incorporate into the ecosystem management 
plans applicable to those lands any statutory provisions that are in 
effect on such date and applicable to those lands.
    (c) Principles of Plans.--Ecosystem management plans shall embody 
the following principles:
            (1) Application of management techniques that will enhance 
        the health and vigor of the renewable natural resources on the 
        National Forest System lands covered by the plans and provide 
        for the continued protection of the soil, air, and water 
        resources of these lands.
            (2) Improvement of the forest ecosystems on these lands 
        toward desired forest conditions that--
                    (A) provide a mosaic of forest seral stages--
                            (i) representing a range of wildlife 
                        habitats necessary to meet the needs of the 
                        species indigenous to the ecosystem being 
                        managed; and
                            (ii) designed in such a way as to obviate 
                        the need for corridors or special management 
                        areas to meet the needs of given species or 
                        situations;
                    (B) minimize the danger of stand-destroying 
                uncontrolled wildfire;
                    (C) increase or maintain the health and vigor of 
                stands at a level that will permit the stands to resist 
                naturally, to the greatest degree practicable, insect 
                and disease attacks and the effects of other natural 
                disasters while incorporating the concern that some 
                level of dead-wood, both standing and down, is 
                desirable in healthy ecosystems;
                    (D) maintain the sustainable economic well-being 
                and stability of communities in areas dependent upon 
                national forest resources; and
                    (E) are developed, to the extent possible, with 
                consideration of the conditions that are known to have 
                existed on these lands or on similar lands before the 
                impacts of European settlement.
            (3) Concentration of management activities on the condition 
        of the renewable resources of an ecosystem rather than on 
        producing targeted outputs, with projected outputs based upon 
        attainment of specific stand conditions.
            (4) Emphasis on tangible management results rather than on 
        procedural standards and guidelines, but with development of 
        scientifically credible monitoring standards and guidelines to 
        assess both short- and long-term management results.
            (5) Except for any statutory provisions incorporated under 
        subsection (b) with respect to specific lands, prohibition on 
        requiring the allocation or categorization of tracts of land 
        for specific preselected ecosystem management emphases.
            (6) Consideration of the habitat needs of all species 
        across a broad landscape using management indicator species 
        whose presence will reflect a suitable amount and distribution 
        of particular habitat elements, rather than concentrating on 
        the needs of single species in a limited area.
            (7) Application across the entire unreserved land base in 
        such a manner as to harmonize the various multiple uses.
            (8) Incorporation of maximum flexibility in resource 
        decisionmaking through the use of adaptive management.
    (d) Management to Promote Desired Forest Conditions.--
            (1) In general.--Ecosystem management under the ecosystem 
        management plans shall be planned and practiced in a manner 
        that--
                    (A) considers the entire landscape in a management 
                unit of the National Forest System covered by a plan; 
                and
                    (B) benefits, to the extent practicable, all 
                renewable resources and the human resource in or 
                dependent upon the management unit.
            (2) Individual projects.--Individual management projects in 
        a management unit of the National Forest System covered by the 
        ecosystem management plans shall be designed to provide 
        multiresource benefits, promote the desired forest conditions 
        described in subsection (c)(2), and achieve maximum project 
        operating efficiency.
    (e) Selection of Acres for Ecosystem Management Activities.--
            (1) Minimum acres.--Ecosystem management plans shall 
        specify the minimum number of acres on which ecosystem 
        management activities will be applied annually in any 
        management unit of the National Forest System covered by the 
        plans. Such acreage shall be determined on the basis of the 
        total number of acres in the management unit, the work to be 
        performed across the unit as a whole during the plan period, 
        and the pro rata annual acreage on which ecosystem management 
        activities must be applied in order to establish and maintain 
        the desired forest condition during the specified plan period.
            (2) Effect of natural disasters.--In case of natural 
        disasters, such as wildfire, flood, windthrow, insect or 
        disease attack, a revision of the schedule of acres to be 
        treated may be granted by the Secretary in order to conduct 
        restoration and rehabilitation activities on the acres affected 
        by the natural disaster.
    (f) Participation in Development.--To ensure that the ecosystem 
management plans are economically, scientifically, and socially 
acceptable, the Secretary shall develop the plans through the use of 
public involvement programs that emphasize input from residents of 
local communities to be affected by the plans. The Secretary shall 
continue to consult with all interested persons in evaluating or 
modifying the plans.

SEC. 5. PROCESS FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLANS.

    (a) Implementation.--Beginning not later than January 1, 1995, the 
Secretary shall begin to implement the ecosystem management plans. The 
Secretary shall develop and implement the plans progressively over a 
five-year period to ensure full application of all plans not later than 
January 1, 2000, to all National Forest System lands described in 
section 4(b). Upon implementation of an ecosystem management plan for 
any portion of the lands described in such section, the plan shall 
replace and supersede any land and resource management plan (or portion 
of such a plan) then in effect for such lands.
    (b) Yearly Expansion.--During each year of the period specified in 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall expand application of the ecosystem 
management plans to contiguous areas required to be covered by such 
plans, as described in section 4(b). To the extent the Secretary 
considers it to be necessary, the Secretary may modify the ecosystem 
management plans for each new addition in order to incorporate the 
lessons gained from experience. Adaptive management shall be used to 
evaluate management decisions and to develop new information to be used 
to keep the plans and subsequent management decisions up-to-date.
    (c) Modification of Ecosystem Management Plans.--The Secretary 
shall modify the ecosystem management plans to incorporate findings 
from research, adaptive management projects, or monitoring to the 
extent such findings indicate changes in the plans are necessary or 
appropriate to achieve the principles described in section 4(c). Before 
the end of the first two years of the period specified in subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall issue regulations that set forth the process 
to be used for any modification of the ecosystem management plans.
    (d) Consistency.--Resource plans and permits and other instruments 
for the use and occupancy of National Forest System lands covered by an 
ecosystem management plan that are executed subsequent to the 
implementation date of the plan with respect to such lands shall be 
consistent with the plan. If the ecosystem management plan is modified, 
resource plans and permits and other instruments that are executed 
subsequent to the date of the modification shall be consistent with the 
modified plan. Appropriate supplemental documents under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall be 
prepared for those resource plans and permits, contracts, and other 
instruments in existence upon adoption of the ecosystem management plan 
or any modification of the plan. Any revisions in existing resource 
plans and permits, contracts, and other instruments shall be consistent 
with the supplemental document findings and subject to the agreement of 
all contractual parties. Any revision in present or future permits, 
contracts, and other instruments made pursuant to this subsection shall 
be subject to valid existing rights.

SEC. 6. RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROGRAM.

    The Secretary shall describe in detail in the ecosystem management 
plans and implement as part of the plans a targeted program of research 
and monitoring aimed at measuring the effects of the management regimes 
adopted under the plans. The Secretary shall ensure that monitoring is 
sufficient to measure the responses of the various resources to 
management practices and to provide a basis for adjustments of 
subsequent management decisions.

SEC. 7. MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Increased Use of Certified Professional Practitioners.--With 
respect to National Forest System lands covered by the ecosystem 
management plans, the Secretary shall endeavor to increase the amount 
of field work to be done by professional practitioners certified by the 
Forest Service.
    (b) Accountability Procedures.--The Secretary shall develop 
accountability procedures to annually measure and inform the Congress 
concerning the work (as described in section 4(e)) achieved through the 
use of funds appropriated each year for National Forest System lands 
covered by the ecosystem management plans. The selection of acres upon 
which such work will be performed shall be controlled through the 
planning process. The accountability procedures required by this 
subsection shall be established and in operation before the end of the 
first two years of the period specified in section 5(a) and shall be 
designed to ensure the accomplishment of the work in accordance with 
plan direction.
    (c) Budgetary Considerations.--The Secretary shall develop budgets 
for each management unit of the National Forest System covered by 
ecosystem management plans on the basis of estimated benefits to the 
various resources affected by the ecosystem management activities, and 
such budgets will be justified on such basis. The Secretary shall 
provide the managers of these units the flexibility to accomplish over-
all objectives within over-all budgets in lieu of requiring and 
preparing detailed line-item budgets for each unit of work, except that 
accountability procedures developed under subsection (b) shall include 
requirements for detailed explanations of expenditures and estimates of 
benefits for each resource.

A: California Forest Ecosystems Health Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to develop and implement ecosystem management plans for National Forest System lands in California.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Fair Treatment Act of 
1995''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
      TITLE I--REGULATORY SIMPLIFICATION AND VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE

Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Compliance guides.
Sec. 103. No action letter.
Sec. 104. Voluntary self-audits.
                   TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. Performance measures.
Sec. 202. Grace period for correction of violations of Environmental 
                            Protection Agency regulations.
Sec. 203. Waiver of punitive fines for small entities.

      TITLE I--REGULATORY SIMPLIFICATION AND VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
            (1) Compliance guide.--The term ``compliance guide'' means 
        a publication made by a covered agency under section 102(a).
            (2) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means any 
        agency that, on the date of enactment of this Act, has 
        promulgated any rule for which a regulatory flexibility 
        analysis was required under section 605 of title 5, United 
        States Code, and any other agency that promulgates any such 
        rule, as of the date of enactment of this Act.
            (3) No action letter.--The term ``no action letter'' means 
        a written determination from a covered agency stating that, 
        based on a no action request submitted to the agency by a small 
        entity, the agency will not take enforcement action against the 
        small entity under the rules of the covered agency.
            (4) No action request.--The term ``no action request'' 
        means a written correspondence submitted by a small entity to a 
        covered agency--
                    (A) stating a set of facts; and
                    (B) requesting a determination by the agency of 
                whether the agency would take an enforcement action 
                against the small entity based on such facts and the 
                application of any rule of the agency.
            (5) Rule.--The term ``rule'' has the same meaning as in 
        section 601(2) of title 5, United States Code.
            (6) Small entity.--The term ``small entity'' has the same 
        meaning as in section 601(6) of title 5, United States Code.
            (7) Small business concern.--The term ``small business 
        concern'' has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Small 
        Business Act.
            (8) Voluntary self-audit.--The term ``voluntary self-
        audit'' means an audit, assessment, or review of any operation, 
        practice, or condition of a small entity that--
                    (A) is initiated by an officer, employee, or agent 
                of the small entity; and
                    (B) is not required by law.

SEC. 102. COMPLIANCE GUIDES.

    (a) Compliance Guide.--
            (1) Publication.--If a covered agency is required to 
        prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for a rule or group 
        of related rules under section 603 of title 5, United States 
        Code, the agency shall publish a compliance guide for such rule 
        or group of related rules.
            (2) Requirements.--Each compliance guide published under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) contain a summary description of the rule or 
                group of related rules;
                    (B) contain a citation to the location of the 
                complete rule or group of related rules in the Federal 
                Register;
                    (C) provide notice to small entities of the 
                requirements under the rule or group of related rules 
                and explain the actions that a small entity is required 
                to take to comply with the rule or group of related 
                rules;
                    (D) be written in a manner to be understood by the 
                average owner or manager of a small entity; and
                    (E) be updated as required to reflect changes in 
                the rule.
    (b) Dissemination.--
            (1) In general.--Each covered agency shall establish a 
        system to ensure that compliance guides required under this 
        section are published, disseminated, and made easily available 
        to small entities.
            (2) Small business development centers.--In carrying out 
        this subsection, each covered agency shall provide sufficient 
        numbers of compliance guides to small business development 
        centers for distribution to small businesses concerns.
    (c) Limitation on Enforcement.--
            (1) In general.--No covered agency may bring an enforcement 
        action in any Federal court or in any Federal administrative 
        proceeding against a small entity to enforce a rule for which a 
        compliance guide is not published and disseminated by the 
        covered agency as required under this section.
            (2) Effective dates.--This subsection shall take effect--
                    (A) 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
                Act with regard to a final regulation in effect on the 
                date of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) on the date of the enactment of this Act with 
                regard to a regulation that takes effect as a final 
                regulation after such date of enactment.

SEC. 103. NO ACTION LETTER.

    (a) Application.--This section applies to all covered agencies, 
except--
            (1) the Federal Trade Commission;
            (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and
            (3) the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
    (b) Issuance of No Action Letter.--Not later than 90 days after the 
date on which a covered agency receives a no action request, the agency 
shall--
            (1) make a determination regarding whether to grant the no 
        action request, deny the no action request, or seek further 
        information regarding the no action request; and
            (2) if the agency makes a determination under paragraph (1) 
        to grant the no action request, issue a no action letter and 
        transmit the letter to the requesting small entity.
    (c) Reliance on No Action Letter or Compliance Guide.--In any 
enforcement action brought by a covered agency in any Federal court or 
Federal administrative proceeding against a small entity, the small 
entity shall have a complete defense to any allegation of noncompliance 
or violation of a rule if the small entity affirmatively pleads and 
proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the act or omission 
constituting the alleged noncompliance or violation was taken in good 
faith with and in reliance on--
            (1) a no action letter from that agency; or
            (2) a compliance guide of the applicable rule published by 
        the agency under section 102(a).

SEC. 104. VOLUNTARY SELF-AUDITS.

    (a) Procedures.--Each agency shall establish voluntary self-audit 
procedures for small entities regulated by the agency.
    (b) Inadmissibility of Evidence and Limitation on Discovery.--If 
action to address a violation is taken not later than 180 days after 
the date on which a voluntary self-audit is concluded, the evidence 
described in subsection (c)--
            (1) shall not be admissible, unless agreed to by the small 
        entity, in any enforcement action brought against a small 
        entity by a Federal agency in any Federal--
                    (A) court; or
                    (B) administrative proceeding; and
            (2) may not be the subject of discovery in any enforcement 
        action brought against a small entity by a Federal agency in 
        any Federal--
                    (A) court; or
                    (B) administrative proceeding.
    (c) Application.--For purposes of subsection (b), the evidence 
described in this subsection is--
            (1) a voluntary self-audit made in good faith; and
            (2) any report, finding, opinion, or any other oral or 
        written communication made in good faith relating to such 
        voluntary self-audit.
    (d) Exceptions.--Subsection (b) shall not apply if--
            (1) the act or omission that forms the basis of the 
        enforcement action is a violation of criminal law; or
            (2) the voluntary self-audit or the report, finding, 
        opinion, or other oral or written communication was prepared 
        for the purpose of avoiding disclosure of information required 
        for an investigative, administrative, or judicial proceeding 
        that, at the time of preparation, was imminent or in progress.

                   TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

    No covered agency shall establish or enforce agency personnel 
practices that reward agency employees, directly or indirectly, based 
on the number of contacts made with small entities in pursuit of 
enforcement actions or on the amount of fines levied against small 
entities to enforce agency regulations.

SEC. 202. GRACE PERIOD FOR CORRECTION OF VIOLATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL 
              PROTECTION AGENCY REGULATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), for violations of 
regulations identified on or after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall afford 
small entities 180 days after the date on which the violation is 
identified to correct such violation.
    (b) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply--
            (1) if the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency determines that there is an imminent risk to public 
        health or worker safety; or
            (2) to a violation of a regulation for which criminal 
        liability may be imposed.

SEC. 203. WAIVER OF PUNITIVE FINES FOR SMALL ENTITIES.

    Notwithstanding any other law, policy, or practice, a covered 
agency may waive all or part of a punitive fine that would otherwise be 
imposed on a small entity if--
            (1) the fine is for a first time violation of a law or 
        regulation; and
            (2) the small entity acts quickly and in good faith to 
        correct the violation.

A: TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
     Title I:  Regulatory Simplification and Voluntary Compliance 
     Title II:  Miscellaneous Provisions 
Small Business Fair Treatment Act of 1995 - 
Title I:  Regulatory Simplification and Voluntary Compliance
 - Directs a Federal regulatory agency that is required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for a rule or group of related rules to publish a compliance guide which:  (1) contains a summary of the rules and a citation as to their location; (2) provides a notice to small businesses (small entities) of such rules as well as an understandable explanation of actions necessary for compliance; and (3) is updated as required. Requires such guide to be disseminated to small entities, as well as to small business development centers.  Prohibits any covered agency from bringing an action against a small entity to enforce a rule for which such a guide has not been published and disseminated. 
(Sec. 103) Requires covered agencies other than the Federal Trade Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to determine within 90 days whether to grant or deny a request by a small entity that no action be taken against such entity with respect to the enforcement of a rule (no action request).  Allows a small entity to rely on a no action response from a covered agency in any subsequent action brought against the small entity for a rule's enforcement. 
(Sec. 104) Requires each covered agency to establish voluntary self-audit procedures for small entities regulated by the agency. Makes inadmissible as evidence in an action, as well as outside the bounds of discovery, any information compiled by a small entity in a voluntary self-audit, as long as an action to address such violation is brought within 180 days after the conclusion of the self-audit. 
Title II:  Miscellaneous Provisions
 - Prohibits any covered agency from establishing personnel practices that reward its employees based on the number of contacts made with small entities in pursuit of enforcement actions or the levy of fines to enforce agency regulations. 
(Sec. 202) Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to afford small entities a 180-day grace period for the correction of EPA violations, with exceptions. 
(Sec. 203) Authorizes a covered agency to waive all or part of any punitive fine that would otherwise be imposed on a small entity:  (1) for a first time violation; and (2) if the small entity acts quickly and in good faith to correct the violation.
****
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sports Relocation Reform Act of 
1996''.

SEC. 2. RELOCATION OF CERTAIN TEAMS.

    (a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            (1) the term `home territory' means the geographic 
        metropolitan area within which a member team operates and plays 
        the majority of its home games;
            (2) the term `interested party' includes, with respect to a 
        member team--
                    (A) any political subdivision of a State that 
                provides, or has provided, financial assistance, 
                including tax abatement, for facilities (including a 
                stadium or arena) in which the member team plays;
                    (B) a representative of the political subdivision 
                with jurisdiction over the geographic area in which the 
                stadium or arena of the member team is located;
                    (C) a member team;
                    (D) the owner or operator of a stadium or arena of 
                a member team; and
                    (E) any other person who is determined by the 
                sports league of the member team to be an affected 
                party;
            (3) the term `member team' means a team of professional 
        athletes--
                    (A) organized to play professional football, 
                basketball, or hockey; and
                    (B) that is a member of a professional sports 
                league;
            (4) the term `person' means any individual, partnership, 
        corporation, or unincorporated association, any combination or 
        association thereof, or any State or political subdivision of a 
        State;
            (5) the term `professional sports league' means an 
        association that--
                    (A) is composed of 2 or more member teams;
                    (B) regulates the contests and exhibitions of its 
                member teams; and
                    (C) has been engaged in competition in a particular 
                sport for a period of more than 7 years; and
            (6) the terms `stadium' and `arena' mean the principal 
        physical facility within which a member team has played the 
        majority of its home games.
    (b) Establishment of Rule.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the requirements set forth in 
        this section, any professional sports league may establish a 
        rule--
                    (A) authorizing the membership of that league to 
                decide whether or not a member team of that league may 
                be relocated outside of the home territory of that 
                member team; and
                    (B) requiring that any person seeking to change the 
                home territory of that member team obtain the approval 
                of the appropriate professional sports league.
            (2) Inapplicability of antitrust laws.--Notwithstanding any 
        other provision of law, the antitrust laws shall not apply to 
        the enforcement or application by a professional sports league 
        of any rule established pursuant to paragraph (1).
    (c) Procedural Requirements.--
            (1) Request for approval.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 210 days before the 
                commencement of the season in which a member team 
                proposes to play in a new location, any person seeking 
                to change the home territory of that member team shall 
                submit a request for approval of the proposed change to 
                the appropriate professional sports league.
                    (B) Requirements.--Each request for approval 
                submitted under subparagraph (A) shall--
                            (i) be in writing;
                            (ii) be delivered in person or by certified 
                        mail to each interested party by not later than 
                        30 days after submission to the appropriate 
                        professional sports league under subparagraph 
                        (A);
                            (iii) be made available by the date 
                        specified in clause (ii) to the news media;
                            (iv) be published by the date specified in 
                        clause (iii) in 1 or more newspapers of general 
                        circulation within the home territory of the 
                        member team; and
                            (v) contain--
                                    (I) an identification of the 
                                proposed location of the member team;
                                    (II) a summary of the reasons for 
                                the change in home territory based on 
                                the criteria described in paragraph 
                                (2)(B); and
                                    (III) the date on which the 
                                proposed change would become effective.
            (2) Procedures.--
                    (A) Establishment.--Each professional sports league 
                shall establish rules and procedures for approving or 
                disapproving requests submitted under paragraph (1), 
                that shall--
                            (i) include criteria to be considered and 
                        taken as a whole by the professional sports 
                        league in approving or disapproving such 
                        requests; and
                            (ii) be made available upon request to any 
                        interested party.
                    (B) Criteria to be considered.--The criteria 
                described in subparagraph (A)(i) shall include--
                            (i) the extent to which fan loyalty to and 
                        support for the member team has been 
                        demonstrated, through attendance, ticket sales, 
                        and television ratings, during the tenure of 
                        the member team in the home territory;
                            (ii) the degree to which the member team 
                        has engaged in good faith negotiations with 
                        appropriate persons concerning the terms and 
                        conditions under which the member team would 
                        continue to play its games in the home 
                        territory of the member team;
                            (iii) the degree to which the ownership or 
                        management of the member team has contributed 
                        to any circumstance that might demonstrate the 
                        need for the relocation of the member team;
                            (iv) the extent to which the member team 
                        has, directly or indirectly, received public 
                        financial support by means of any publicly 
                        financed playing facility, rent abatement, 
                        special tax treatment, any other form of public 
                        financial support, any other public benefits 
                        not generally available to businesses as a 
                        whole within the jurisdiction, and the extent 
                        to which such support continues;
                            (v) the adequacy of the stadium or arena of 
                        the member team, and the willingness of the 
                        stadium or arena authority and the local 
                        government to remedy any deficiencies in the 
                        stadium or arena;
                            (vi) whether the member team has incurred 
                        net operating losses, exclusive of depreciation 
                        or amortization, sufficient to threaten the 
                        continued financial viability of the member 
                        team;
                            (vii) whether any other member team in the 
                        professional sports league is located in the 
                        home territory of the member team;
                            (viii) whether the member team proposes to 
                        relocate to a territory in which no other 
                        member team in the professional sports league 
                        is located;
                            (ix) whether the stadium or arena 
                        authority, if public, is opposed to the 
                        relocation;
                            (x) the effect that relocation would have 
                        on contracts, agreements, or understandings 
                        between the member team and public and private 
                        parties; and
                            (xi) any other criteria considered to be 
                        appropriate by the professional sports league.
            (3) Hearings.--In determining whether to approve or 
        disapprove a proposed request submitted under paragraph (1), 
        the professional sports league shall--
                    (A) conduct a hearing at which interested parties 
                shall be afforded an opportunity to submit written 
                testimony and exhibits; and
                    (B) keep a written record of that hearing and any 
                testimony and exhibits submitted under subparagraph 
                (A).
    (d) Judicial Review.--
            (1) In general.--A decision by a professional sports league 
        to approve or disapprove a request submitted under paragraph 
        (c)(1) may only be reviewed in a civil action filed by an 
        interested party in accordance with this subsection.
            (2) Venue.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), an action under this subsection may be filed only 
                in the United States District Court for the District of 
                Columbia.
                    (B) Exception.--If the home territory of the member 
                team or the proposed home territory of the member team 
                is located within a 50-mile radius of the District of 
                Columbia, an action under this subsection may be filed 
                only in the United States District Court for the 
                Southern District of New York.
            (3) Time.--
                    (A) Filing.--An action under this subsection shall 
                be filed not later than 14 days after the date of the 
                formal vote of the professional sports league approving 
                or disapproving the proposed relocation.
                    (B) Review.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                filing of the action in accordance with subparagraph 
                (A), the district court shall issue an order with 
                respect to that action.
            (4) Standard of review.--The scope of judicial review in 
        any action under this subsection shall be limited to a 
        determination of whether--
                    (A) in deciding whether to approve or disapprove a 
                proposed relocation, the professional sports league 
                failed to comply with this section; and
                    (B) the decision of the professional sports league 
                to approve or disapprove a proposed relocation was 
                arbitrary or capricious.
            (5) Relief granted by court.--
                    (A) In general.--In any action under this 
                subsection, if the district court makes a determination 
                described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (4), 
                the court shall--
                            (i) remand the matter for further 
                        consideration by the professional sports 
                        league; and
                            (ii) enjoin any relocation of the member 
                        team at issue until the professional sports 
                        league has reconsidered the matter in 
                        accordance with the order of the court under 
                        this paragraph.
                    (B) Limitation of court.--The court may not grant 
                any relief in any action under this subsection other 
                than enjoining or approving enforcement of the decision 
                by the professional sports league to approve or 
                disapprove a request submitted under paragraph (c)(1).
                    (C) Prohibition of multiple lawsuits by other 
                interested parties.--An interested party shall have a 
                right of intervention in a civil action described in 
                paragraph (1), but may not file an additional civil 
                action after the initial civil action has been filed.

A:
Sports Relocation Reform Act of 1996 - Authorizes any U.S. professional sports league to establish a rule:  (1) authorizing the league membership to decide whether or not a member team may be relocated; and (2) requiring that any person seeking to change the home territory of a member team obtain league approval.  Makes the antitrust laws inapplicable to the enforcement or application of any such rules. 
Outlines procedural requirements for requests for approval of a proposed relocation, requiring each league to establish rules and procedures governing such requests.  Outlines criteria to be considered during such process, including fan loyalty and the extent to which the requesting team has entered into good faith negotiations of terms and conditions required to continue to play in the current territory.  Requires the league to conduct hearings in which interested parties are afforded an opportunity to submit written testimony and exhibits.  Provides for judicial review through a civil action filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, with an exception for a team located in the District of Columbia area.  Authorizes such Court to remand the matter for further consideration by the league and enjoin any relocation until the league has completed such reconsideration.  Prohibits multiple lawsuits by other interested parties.
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