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PRINTER'S NO. 1450
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1222
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, MILLARD, MURT, BULLOCK, McNEILL, BIZZARRO,
D. COSTA, WATSON, LONGIETTI AND READSHAW, APRIL 17, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
APRIL 17, 2017
AN ACT
Providing for dedication of portion of sales and use tax; and
establishing the Tourism, Museum and Arts Trust Fund.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Tourism,
Museum and Arts Funding Act.
Section 2. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Tourism is an important part of Pennsylvania's
economy, with visitors spending billions of dollars a year
and supporting thousands of jobs at hotels, restaurants,
museums, arts and cultural organizations and recreational,
historical and outdoor attractions.
(2) State government, working in partnership with local
tourism agencies, museums and arts and cultural agencies, has
a responsibility to promote and market this Commonwealth to
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out-of-State leisure and business travelers.
(3) A dedicated source of revenue for tourism marketing
and promotion and for grants to museums and the arts will
enable the Commonwealth to promote economic development,
support our many museums and foster the diversity and
strength of arts and culture in communities throughout this
Commonwealth.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Destination marketing organization." A nonprofit
corporation, organization, association or agency that is engaged
in tourism promotion or marketing on a regional or Statewide
basis to attract leisure or business travelers to this
Commonwealth.
"Fund." The Tourism, Museum and Arts Trust Fund established
by this act.
"Official tourism promotion and marketing agency of the
Commonwealth." The nonprofit corporation, organization,
association or State agency established by law or designated by
the Department of Community and Economic Development as the
official tourism promotion and marketing agency of the
Commonwealth.
"Tourism promotion agency." A recognized nonprofit
corporation, organization, association or agency that is engaged
in planning and promoting programs designed to stimulate and
increase the volume of tourist, visitor and vacation business
within counties served by the agency as that term is defined in
the act of July 4, 2008 (P.L.621, No.50), known as the Tourism
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Promotion Act.
Section 4. Tourism, Museum and Arts Trust Fund.
(a) Establishment.--The Tourism, Museum and Arts Trust Fund
is established in the State Treasury.
(b) Deposits.--The revenue collected under section 5 shall
be deposited into the fund within 60 days of collection.
(c) Use of revenues.--The money in the fund is appropriated
on a continuing basis to the fund and shall not lapse. Except as
provided in subsection (d), payments from the fund shall be made
upon warrant of the State Treasurer after receipt of a
requisition from the appropriate agency under this act.
(d) Initial distribution of funds.--No funds shall be
distributed under section 5 prior to July 1, 2018.
Section 5. Funding for tourism, museums and arts.
(a) Source of funding.--The revenue generated from one-sixth
of the tax levied under section 210 of the act of March 4, 1971
(P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, shall be
deposited into the fund for use as provided by this act.
(b) Allocation of funds.--The money in the fund shall be
allocated as follows:
(1) Sixty percent of the revenue shall be used by the
official tourism promotion and marketing agency of the
Commonwealth for tourism marketing, promotion and development
of activities to attract leisure and business travelers to
this Commonwealth and for matching grants to destination
marketing organizations and tourism promotion agencies.
(2) Twenty percent of the revenue shall be used by the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for museum
assistance grants.
(3) Twenty percent of the revenue shall be used by the
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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for grants
to the arts.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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