PRINTER'S NO. 297
No. 259 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY MARKOSEK, CAPPELLI, BUNT, KOTIK, WILT, WALKO,
HENNESSEY, HERMAN, McILHATTAN, SHANER, GEIST, HALUSKA, SURRA,
BALDWIN AND R. STEVENSON, FEBRUARY 12, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
FEBRUARY 12, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), entitled "An
2 act to enhance community and economic development in this
3 Commonwealth by restructuring certain administrative
4 functions and entities; changing the name of the Department
5 of Commerce to the Department of Community and Economic
6 Development; transferring functions of the Department of
7 Community Affairs into the Department of Community and
8 Economic Development and other agencies; providing for a
9 Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs and Development in the
10 Department of Community and Economic Development;
11 establishing the Center for Local Government Services and the
12 Local Government Advisory Committee; establishing the Small
13 Business Advocacy Council; conferring powers and duties on
14 the Legislative Reference Bureau; and making repeals,"
15 establishing a program to promote outdoor tourism in
16 Pennsylvania and the Office of Outdoor Tourism; and making an
17 appropriation.
18 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
19 hereby enacts as follows:
20 Section 1. The act of June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), known
21 as the Community and Economic Development Enhancement Act, is
22 amended by adding a section to read:
23 Section 307. Promotion of outdoor tourism.
24 (a) General rule.--In addition to any powers and duties
1 under the act of April 28, 1961 (P.L.111, No.50), known as the
2 Tourist Promotion Law, the department shall develop, implement
3 and administer a program to promote outdoor tourism in
4 Pennsylvania by attracting out-of-State residents and retaining
5 Pennsylvania residents with specific emphasis on hunting,
6 fishing, wildlife watching and other areas of ecotourism.
7 (b) Office established.--There is hereby established within
8 the department, an Office of Outdoor Tourism to administer the
9 program developed under subsection (a).
10 (c) Annual reports.--No later than February 28, 2005, and
11 annually thereafter before February 28, the director of the
12 Office of Outdoor Tourism shall present a report at a joint
13 meeting of the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee
14 and the Game and Fisheries Committee of the House of
15 Representatives which details the Commonwealth's tourism and
16 marketing effort with specific focus on all aspects of
17 ecotourism, including hunting, fishing and wildlife watching.
18 Section 2. The sum of $500,000, or as much thereof as may be
19 necessary, is hereby appropriated to the Department of Community
20 and Economic Development for the fiscal year July 1, 2003, to
21 June 30, 2004, for the establishment and operation of the Office
22 of Outdoor Tourism.
23 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003, or
24 immediately, whichever occurs later.
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