BILL REQ. #:  H-2473.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/03/09.   

     AN ACT Relating to local tourism promotion areas; amending RCW 35.101.010; and adding a new section to chapter 35.101 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 35.101.010 and 2003 c 148 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "Area" means a tourism promotion area.
     (2) "Legislative authority" means the legislative authority of any county with a population greater than forty thousand ((but less than one million)), or of any city or town within such a county, including unclassified cities or towns operating under special charters. However, in any county with a population of one million or more, the legislative authority shall be comprised of two or more jurisdictions acting jointly as the legislative authority under an interlocal agreement created under chapter 39.34 RCW for the joint establishment and operation of a tourism promotion area.
     (3) "Lodging business" means a person that furnishes lodging taxable by the state under chapter 82.08 RCW that has forty or more lodging units.
     (4) "Tourism promotion" means activities and expenditures designed to increase tourism and convention business, including but not limited to advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists, and operating tourism destination marketing organizations.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 35.101 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A legislative authority shall contract, prior to the effective date of an ordinance imposing a lodging charge under RCW 35.101.050, for the administration and collection of the charge by the state department of revenue. The department may deduct a percentage amount, as provided by contract, for the administration and collection expenses incurred by the department.
     (2) This section only applies to a legislative authority consisting of a county with a population of one million or more or a city or town within such a county.