(a)General rule.--A body corporate and politic to be known as the Southwestern Pennsylvania Convention Center Design Commission is established as a special-purpose government instrumentality exercising the powers conferred by this chapter. The exercise by the design commission of the powers conferred by this chapter is declared to be the performance of an essential public function.
(b)Establishment.--The design commission shall be established on June 18, 1997. Once established, the design commission shall continue in existence until the renovations, improvements and expansion of a convention center have been completed.
(c)Sovereign immunity.--The following apply:
(1)The members, employees and staff of the design commission shall have sovereign immunity as provided in 1 Pa.C.S. § 231
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(a) General rule.--A body corporate and politic to be known as the Southwestern Pennsylvania Convention Center Design Commission is established as a special-purpose government instrumentality exercising the powers conferred by this chapter. The exercise by the design commission of the powers conferred by this chapter is declared to be the performance of an essential public function.
(b) Establishment.--The design commission shall be established on June 18, 1997. Once established, the design commission shall continue in existence until the renovations, improvements and expansion of a convention center have been completed.
(c) Sovereign immunity.--The following apply:
(1) The members, employees and staff of the design commission shall have sovereign immunity as provided in 1 Pa.C.S. § 2310 (relating to sovereign immunity reaffirmed; specific waiver).
(2) The members, employees and staff of the design commission shall remain immune from suit except as provided by and subject to the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 85 Subchs. A (relating to general provisions) and B (relating to actions against Commonwealth parties).
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 8525 (relating to legal assistance), the design commission through its legal counsel shall defend actions brought against the design commission or its members, officers and employees if acting within the scope of their official duties.
(d) Membership.--The design commission shall be composed of the following 15 members:
(1) One member appointed by the mayor of the central city.
(2) One member appointed by the city council of the central city.
(3) Two members appointed by the governing body of the central county.
(4) One member appointed by the Governor.
(5) One member appointed by the regional planning commission established under 53 Pa.C.S. § 2344 (relating to establishment and organization of regional planning commission) of which the central county is a member.
(6) Two members appointed by the Governor who have been nominated by the governing board of the largest private trade or industry association formed to represent the owners of hotels located in the central county only.
(7) Two members appointed by the Governor who have been nominated by the governing board of the largest private trade or industry association formed to represent the owners of restaurants located in the central county only.
(8) Four members appointed by the governing board of the convention and visitors bureau.
(9) The chair of the auditorium authority.
(e) Term.--The term of office of the members of the design commission shall be coincident with the term of existence of the design commission.
(f) Qualifications.--The members appointed under subsection (d)(8) shall have the following qualifications:
(1) One member shall have experience and expertise in planning and marketing national meetings and conventions.
(2) One member shall have experience and expertise in planning and marketing consumer shows.
(3) One member shall have experience and expertise in marketing convention centers.
(4) One member shall have experience and expertise in providing support services for conventions and shows.
(g) Election of officers.--The members of the design commission shall elect from members of the commission a chair, secretary and other officers as the commission determines. Each officer shall serve for a term of two years and until a successor is elected and qualified or until death or resignation. A member may not hold more than one office of the design commission at any time. Members may serve successive terms as officers of the design commission.
(h) Meetings.--The design commission shall meet as frequently as it deems appropriate, but at least once a month during the first year that it is in existence and thereafter at least once during each calendar quarter. In addition, a meeting of the design commission shall be called by the chair if a request for a meeting is submitted to the chair by at least two members of the design commission. A majority of the members of the design commission in office shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the design commission and for all other purposes. The acts of a majority of the members of the design commission taken at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the acts of the design commission.
(i) Powers.--The design commission is granted all powers necessary or convenient to carry out the commission's purpose under this chapter.
(j) Reimbursement of expenses.--The members of the design commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred while participating in the business of the design commission. Expense reimbursements, as well as all costs associated with conducting the business of the design commission, shall be paid by the auditorium authority out of the special fund established under section 17161(d) (relating to increase in rate of hotel tax in central county).