SSB 6446 -
By Senator Fraser
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 67.28.1816 and 2008 c 28 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1)(a) Lodging tax revenues under this chapter may be used,
directly by local jurisdictions or indirectly through a convention and
visitors bureau or destination marketing organization, for the
marketing and operations of special events and festivals and to support
the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities
owned by nonprofit organizations described under section 501(c)(3) and
section 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.
(b) Applicants applying for funding from revenues in this chapter
must provide the local jurisdiction to which they are applying
estimates of how any funding received will result in increases in
tourists visiting from fifty miles or more to the local jurisdiction or
other specific tourism-related economic benefits to the local
jurisdiction. All applicants must submit a postevent report to the
local jurisdiction evaluating the actual tourism benefits resulting
from the use of the funds as compared with the estimates contained in
the application.
(2) Local jurisdictions that use the lodging tax revenues under
this section must submit an annual economic impact report to the
department of ((community, trade, and economic development)) commerce
for expenditures made beginning January 1, 2008. These reports must
include the expenditures by the local jurisdiction for tourism
promotion purposes and what is used by a nonprofit organization exempt
from taxation under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6). This
economic impact report, at a minimum, must include: (a) The total
revenue received under this chapter for each year; (b) the list of
festivals, special events, or nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6)
organizations that received funds under this chapter; (c) the list of
festivals, special events, or tourism facilities sponsored or owned by
the local jurisdiction that received funds under this chapter; (d) the
amount of revenue expended on each festival, special event, or
tourism-related facility owned or sponsored by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or
501(c)(6) organization or local jurisdiction; (e) the estimated number
of tourists, persons traveling over fifty miles to the destination,
persons remaining at the destination overnight, and lodging stays
generated per festival, special event, or tourism-related facility
owned or sponsored by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization
or local jurisdiction; and (f) any other measurements the local
government finds that demonstrate the impact of the increased tourism
attributable to the festival, special event, or tourism-related
facility owned or sponsored by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6)
organization or local jurisdiction.
(3) The department of commerce may modify the standardized form
used to compile the economic impact reports in consultation with
associations representing cities, counties, and the tourism industry.
(4) The joint legislative audit and review committee must report to
the legislature and the governor on the use and economic impact of
lodging tax revenues by local jurisdictions since January 1, 2008, to
support festivals, special events, and tourism-related facilities owned
or sponsored by a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) or
501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, or a local
jurisdiction, and the economic impact generated by these festivals,
events, and facilities. This report ((shall be)) is due September 1,
2012 with an update of the report due September 1, 2013.
(((4))) (5) Reporting under this section must begin with calendar
year 2008.
(((5))) (6) This section expires ((June 30, 2013)) December 31,
2014.
Sec. 2 RCW 67.28.080 and 2007 c 497 s 1 are each reenacted and
amended to read as follows:
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Acquisition" includes, but is not limited to, siting,
acquisition, design, construction, refurbishing, expansion, repair, and
improvement, including paying or securing the payment of all or any
portion of general obligation bonds, leases, revenue bonds, or other
obligations issued or incurred for such purpose or purposes under this
chapter.
(2) "Municipality" means any county, city or town of the state of
Washington.
(3) "Operation" includes, but is not limited to, operation,
management, and marketing.
(4) "Person" means the federal government or any agency thereof,
the state or any agency, subdivision, taxing district or municipal
corporation thereof other than county, city or town, any private
corporation, partnership, association, or individual.
(5) "Tourism" means economic activity resulting from tourists,
which may include sales of overnight lodging, meals, tours, gifts, or
souvenirs.
(6) "Tourism promotion" means activities, operations, and
expenditures designed to increase tourism, including but not limited to
advertising, publicizing, or otherwise distributing information for the
purpose of attracting and welcoming tourists; developing strategies to
expand tourism; operating tourism promotion agencies; and funding the
marketing of or the operation of special events and festivals designed
to attract tourists.
(7) "Tourism-related facility" means real or tangible personal
property with a usable life of three or more years, or constructed with
volunteer labor that is: (a)(i) Owned by a public entity; (ii) owned
by a nonprofit organization described under section 501(c)(3) of the
federal internal revenue code of 1986, as amended; or (iii) owned by a
nonprofit organization described under section 501(c)(6) of the federal
internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, a business organization,
destination marketing organization, main street organization, lodging
association, or chamber of commerce and (b) used to support tourism,
performing arts, or to accommodate tourist activities.
(8) "Tourist" means a person who travels from a place of residence
to a different town, city, county, state, or country, for purposes of
business, pleasure, recreation, education, arts, heritage, or culture.
(9) Amendments made in section 1, chapter 497, Laws of 2007 expire
((June 30, 2013)) December 31, 2014."
SSB 6446 -
By Senator
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "tax;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 67.28.1816, reenacting and amending RCW 67.28.080; and providing expiration dates"
EFFECT: (1) Applicants applying for funding from lodging taxes
must provide estimates on how any funding received will result in
increases in tourists visiting from fifty miles or more to the local
jurisdiction or other specific tourism-related benefits to the local
jurisdiction. They must also provide a postevent report to the local
jurisdiction evaluating the actual tourism benefits resulting from the
use of the funds as compared with the estimates contained in the
application.
(2) JLARC must provide a report to the legislature in September
2012. In addition they must do an update to this report in September
of 2013.
(3) The department of commerce may modify the standardized form
used to compile the economic impacts from the use of the funds with the
help of the cities, counties, and tourism industry.