OHIO — An Ohio senator announced new legislation banning professional sports teams from receiving public funds unless they have a winning record in three of the last five seasons. 

Senator Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, said he would soon introduce the “Public Access to Professional Sports Act.”

Another part of the legislation would require if the franchise left the city they play in, they would have to repay taxpayers for all of the funds they received. 

“For too long, Ohioans have been held hostage by these professional sports teams and their billionaire owners,” said DeMora in a news release. “I am tired of hearing year after year that if the government doesn’t fork over taxpayer money, then the team is going to move out of state! This legislation would stop that cycle. If a team wants to get taxpayer money, then the least they can do is have a winning season, and if they decide that they want to move, then the people of Ohio deserve their money back.”

Teams would be required to achieve at least a .500 record in three of the previous five seasons in order to be eligible for public funding. 

The legislation would exempt new teams for their first five years, but would be required to demonstrate competitive performances before looking for additional financing. 

Teams would also need to publicly report their performances and financial requests to maintain transparency. 

Finally, under the act, if a team would like to move out of a city, all public funding they have ever received must be repayed in a mutually agreed upon payment plan between the city and the team's owners.