BILL REQ. #:  S-1478.1 

Read first time 02/15/13.   Referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

     AN ACT Relating to establishing a tourism stakeholder task force for the purpose of increasing trade and economic development in Washington state; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   When the state tourism office was closed in 2011, the Washington tourism alliance was formed to provide a privately funded and managed statewide tourism marketing program. While the tourism alliance has kept the basics of a statewide tourism marketing in place, it is necessary to find a long-term reliable funding mechanism and source so that Washington state can continue to compete with its neighboring states for valuable tourist dollars. It is the intent of the legislature to establish a working group comprised of public and private sector stakeholders in order to identify possible long-term funding solutions which incorporate private-public partnerships.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) A tourism stakeholder task force comprised of representatives from the department of revenue, the department of commerce, the Washington public ports association, the Washington tourism alliance, the Washington lodging association, the Washington restaurant association, and other private sector and nonprofit organizations interested in tourism must convene to identify effective operational structures and long-term funding sources for the implementation of a statewide tourism marketing program.
     (2) The tourism stakeholder task force must convene no less than three separate meetings over the interim. Issues for discussion must include, but are not limited to: The appropriate funding level for a statewide tourism marketing program, identification of long-term funding sources and mechanisms for collecting funds from those sources, identification of the proper governance structure including the relationship between the public and private sectors, and measurements needed to identify the outcomes from the use of tourism marketing funds. Specific recommendations on these issues are due to the legislature by December 1, 2013.
     (3) Legislative staff to the applicable committees must assist the tourism stakeholder task force in planning and facilitating all task force meetings.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   Sections 1 and 2 of this act expire December 1, 2013.