BILL REQ. #:  S-4496.1 

Read first time 01/24/08.   Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

     AN ACT Relating to the information required to be reported in the annual economic impact report on lodging tax revenues; and amending RCW 67.28.1816.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 67.28.1816 and 2007 c 497 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) 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])) section 501(c)(3) and (([section])) section 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.
     (2) Local jurisdictions that use the lodging tax revenues under this section must submit an annual economic impact report for these expenditures to the department of community, trade, and economic development beginning January 1, 2008. These expenditures must include what is used 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 amount of revenue expended on each festival, special event, or tourism-related facility owned by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization or local jurisdiction; (d) 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 by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization or local jurisdiction; and (e) ((an estimated increase in sales and use tax revenues attributable to the special event, festival, or tourism-related facility owned by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization; 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 by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization.
     (3) 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 July 22, 2007, to support festivals, special events, and tourism-related facilities owned by a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended, and the economic impact generated by these festivals, events, and facilities. This report shall be due September 1, 2012.
     (4) Reporting under this section must begin with calendar year 2008.
     (5) This section expires June 30, 2013.