PRINTER'S NO. 188
No. 168 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY GODSHALL, LESCOVITZ, COSTA, BAKER, BARD,
S. MILLER, NAILOR, SAINATO, BUNT, CAPPELLI, CLYMER, CRAHALLA,
CREIGHTON, FICHTER, FLICK, FRANKEL, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HERSHEY,
HORSEY, MANN, McCALL, McILHATTAN, PICKETT, PRESTON, SOLOBAY,
STABACK, STERN, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR, WASHINGTON, WILT AND
YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 10, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
FEBRUARY 10, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), entitled,
2 as amended, "An act relating to counties of the first, third,
3 fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth classes; amending,
4 revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating
5 thereto; relating to imposition of excise taxes by counties,
6 including authorizing imposition of an excise tax on the
7 rental of motor vehicles by counties of the first class; and
8 providing for regional renaissance initiatives," further
9 providing for the authorization of the hotel tax and for
10 definitions of "permanent resident" and "recognized tourist
11 promotion agency."
12 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13 hereby enacts as follows:
14 Section 1. Section 1770.6(c) and the definitions of
15 "permanent resident" and "recognized tourist promotion agency"
16 in subsection (f) of the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323,
17 No.130), known as The County Code, added December 22, 2000
18 (P.L.1019, No.142), are amended to read:
19 Section 1770.6. Authorization of Hotel Tax.--* * *
20 (c) The treasurer of each county electing to impose the tax
1 authorized under this section shall collect the tax and deposit
2 the revenues received from the tax in a special fund established
3 for that purpose. Subsequent to the deduction for administrative
4 costs established in subsection (e), the county shall distribute
5 to the recognized tourist promotion agency all revenues received
6 from the tax not later than sixty days after receipt of the tax
7 revenues. The revenues from the special fund shall be used by
8 the recognized tourist promotion agency for [the purposes of
9 tourism, convention promotion and tourism development.] any or
10 all of the following purposes:
11 (1) Convention promotion.
12 (2) Tourism development.
13 (3) Marketing the area served by the agency as a leisure
14 travel destination.
15 (4) Marketing the area served by the agency as a business
16 travel destination.
17 (5) Using all appropriate marketing tools to accomplish
18 these purposes, including, but not limited to, advertising,
19 publicity, publications, direct marketing, direct sales and
20 participation in travel trade shows.
21 * * *
22 (f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
23 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
24 subsection:
25 * * *
26 "Permanent resident." A person who has occupied or has the
27 right to occupancy of a room or rooms in a hotel as a patron or
28 otherwise for a period exceeding [sixty] thirty consecutive
29 days.
30 "Recognized tourist promotion agency." The nonprofit
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1 corporation, organization, association or agency designated to
2 be such by the board of commissioners as of January 1, 2003, or
3 which succeeds such nonprofit corporation, organization,
4 association or agency which was decertified by reason of
5 malfeasance or fraud, which is engaged in planning and promoting
6 programs designed to stimulate and increase the volume of
7 tourist, visitor and vacation business within counties served by
8 the agency as that term is defined in the act of April 28, 1961
9 (P.L.111, No.50), known as the "Tourist Promotion Law."
10 * * *
11 Section 2. This act shall take effect as follows:
12 (1) The amendment of the definitions of "permanent
13 resident" and "recognized tourist promotion agency" in
14 section 1770.6(f) of the act shall take effect immediately.
15 (2) This section shall take effect immediately.
16 (3) The amendment of section 1770.6(c) of the act shall
17 take effect in six months.
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