PRINTER'S NO. 2977
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2051
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY MOUL, GREINER, BOBACK, MILLARD, D. COSTA,
READSHAW, WARD, CHARLTON, V. BROWN, KAVULICH, ZIMMERMAN,
KAUFFMAN, SOLOMON AND WATSON, FEBRUARY 2, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
FEBRUARY 2, 2018
AN ACT
Providing for tourism marketing and promotion; and establishing
the Statewide Tourism Marketing 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 Statewide
Tourism Marketing Funding Act.
Section 2. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Tourism is a vital part of the economy of this
Commonwealth, with visitors spending billions of dollars
annually.
(2) Tourism in this Commonwealth supports thousands of
jobs at attractions across the State.
(3) While the primary focus of local tourism promotion
agencies is to attract visitors to a specific county or
region, State government has a leadership role to play in
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promoting and marketing this Commonwealth as a whole to
leisure and business travelers from other states and
countries.
(4) A dedicated source of revenue for Statewide tourism
marketing and promotion will enable the Commonwealth to
promote economic development through tourism.
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 Statewide Tourism Marketing Trust Fund
established under section 4.
"Official tourism promotion and marketing agency of the
Commonwealth." The nonprofit corporation, organization,
association, State agency, bureau or office established by law
or designated by the Department of Community and Economic
Development as the official tourism promotion and marketing
agency of the Commonwealth.
"Partnership." The Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism
Partnership established under the act of December 9, 2002
(P.L.1491, No.189), known as the Travel and Tourism Act.
"Statewide tourism marketing and promotion." Marketing and
promotion activities of the official tourism promotion and
marketing agency of the Commonwealth that are designed to
attract leisure and business travelers to Pennsylvania.
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"Tourism promotion agency." A recognized nonprofit
corporation, organization, association or agency, or a
destination marketing organization, 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.
Section 4. Statewide Tourism Marketing Trust Fund.
The Statewide Tourism Marketing Trust Fund is established in
the State Treasury.
Section 5. Funding for Statewide tourism marketing.
(a) Transfer.--The Governor shall annually transfer the sum
of $30,000,000 from special funds and restricted accounts to the
fund for use as provided for under section 6.
(b) Date of transfer.--The transfer of money under this
section shall be within 30 days of the enactment of the general
appropriation bill.
Section 6. Use of money.
Money in the fund shall be used by the official tourism
promotion and marketing agency of the Commonwealth for Statewide
tourism marketing and promotion as follows:
(1) For programs, projects and expenditures designed to
attract leisure and business travelers to this Commonwealth.
(2) To match grants to county and regional tourism
promotion agencies as provided in the act of July 4, 2008
(P.L.621, No.50), known as the Tourism Promotion Act,
provided that the grant is ratified by the partnership under
section 7.
Section 7. Approval of matching grants.
No matching grant shall be made until the grant is ratified
on motion by the partnership at a regular or special meeting
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open to the public.
Section 8. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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