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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session |
Senate: FIN 8-0-2-0 | 3rd Read 25-4-1-0House: COM DP 7-0-2-0 |
SB 1335: tourism marketing authorities
Sponsor: Senator Pace, LD 25
Caucus & COW
Overview
Allows for the formation of a tourism marketing authority (Authority).
History
The Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) is responsible for promoting and developing tourism in Arizona. The AOT is led by a director, appointed by the governor, along with an assistant director chosen by the director with the governor’s approval. The director must have at least five years of management experience in the tourism and travel industry, understanding of the technical elements of the tourism industry, and experience in marketing or public relations. The director is responsible for promoting and developing tourism business, conducting a marketing campaign on the attractions of the state, and promoting this information through state, national and international media (A.R.S., Title 41, Chapter 19).
Provisions
Tourism Marketing Authority (Sec. 1)
1. 
Enables, by a petition, the governing
body of one or more municipalities or one or more municipalities and a county
with a population of less than two million persons to adopt a resolution
forming a tourism marketing authority.
a) Specifies the contents of the petition.
2. Stipulates the governing body of each participating municipality and county by affirmative vote may approve the formation of the Authority if a petition is signed by the owners of at least 67% of the transient lodging rooms within the Authority which includes two or more properties with transient lodging rooms.
3. Prescribes the powers and duties of each governing body of a participating municipality and county of an Authority which include levying an assessment of not more than $5 dollars per room sold per night on the transient lodging rooms in the Authority.
4. Requires the transient lodging room owner to pay the assessment to the Arizona Department of Revenue (DOR) at the same time as paying the transaction privilege tax.
5. Directs DOR to report the amount of monies collect from the assessment to the State Treasurer.
6. Requires the State Treasurer to transmit to the participating municipality or county treasurer's the amount collected from properties within the Authority.
a) Defines the municipal location of a property in the Authority.
7. Directs DOR to separately account for the monies paid and deposit the net revenues collected into the state General Fund.
8. Requires the board of an Authority and any participating municipality or county to supply DOR and the State Treasurer with all requested information necessary relating to the administration of the assessment.
9. Requires an Authority be governed by the board of directors of the recognized tourism promotion agency with at least one member of one or more of the governing bodies participating in the Authority.
10. Permits the Authority to:
a) Employ staff and consultants;
b) Reimburse a municipality or county for staff, services and facilities;
c) Enter into contracts; and
d) Accept Grants.
11. Prohibits an Authority from financing or facilitating the acquisition, maintenance, construction or operation of a hotel, motel, resort or other transient lodging or any sports or entertainment facility.
12. Requires an Authority and its board of directors to maintain the records of the Authority.
13. Requires an Authority and its board of directors to keep monies and operations separate from the tourism promotion agency's other monies and activities.
14. Directs the board of an Authority to comply with public meetings and public records laws.
15. Requires the board of an Authority to report to the governing bodies at least annually on activities and expenditures and the impacts of the expenditures and activities.
16. Outlines the criteria for terminating an Authority by the owners of the transient lodging rooms.
17. Terminates an Authority 10 years after formation unless renewed by petition.
18. Provides criteria for renewing an Authority and modifying its boundaries.
a) Allows for an additional 10-year renewal.
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e) SB 1335
f) Initials PRB Page 0 Caucus & COW
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