SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1780        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2021

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Nick Collins

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolve:

Resolve to evaluate existing funding for the promotion of, and workforce development in, tourism, arts and culture.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1780        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2021

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

Resolve to evaluate existing funding for the promotion of, and workforce development in, tourism, arts and culture.

Resolved, SECTION 1.  There shall be a commission to evaluate the commonwealth’s funding of programs for the promotion of tourism, arts and culture, and for workforce development related to the hospitality and creative industries.

SECTION 2.  The commission shall consist of up to twenty-one members.  The secretary of the executive office of housing and economic development, or their designee, shall serve as chair and a member of the commission ex officio.  The remaining twenty members of the commission shall be selected as follows:  (a) the governor shall appoint one person chosen from each of (i) two nominees of the massachusetts office of travel and tourism; (ii) two nominees of the massachusetts convention center authority; (iii) two nominees from the massachusetts cultural council; (iv) two nominees from the greater boston convention and visitors bureau; (v) two nominees from the massachusetts budget and policy center; (vi) two nominees from the massachusetts taxpayers foundation; (vii) two nominees from the proarts consortium; (viii) two nominees from the metropolitan area planning council; and (ix) two nominees from the massachusetts mayors’ association; (b) the governor shall appoint six persons from convention and visitors bureaus in the commonwealth not including the greater boston convention and visitors bureau; (c) the mayor of boston shall appoint four members who shall have expertise in tourism, arts and culture, or workforce development; (d) the remaining member shall be an artist appointed by the mayor of boston. Each member, including the chair, shall serve without compensation and in an advisory capacity until the report referenced in section six is delivered, whereupon the commission shall disband.

SECTION 3.  The commission shall, at a minimum, investigate the following topics:  (i) total annual funding by the commonwealth for the promotion of tourism, arts and culture; (ii) total annual funding by the commonwealth for workforce development in the hospitality and creative industries; (iii) annual revenue from the investment by the commonwealth in tourism, arts and culture promotion and workforce development; (iv) comparison of investment in tourism, arts and culture promotion and workforce development in the commonwealth with similar investments by other states in the united states of america; and (v) recommendations for new sources of funding in order to increase investment in tourism, arts and culture promotion and workforce development.

SECTION 4.  The commission may create committees and working groups to inform the commission’s investigation of the topics referenced in section three.  The commission, its committees and its working groups may procure services, including consulting services, and otherwise involve experts, stakeholders, and members of the public.

SECTION 5.  The commission shall be supported by staff from the executive office of housing and economic development.  The commission shall meet not less than eight times and shall conduct at least four public hearings.

SECTION 6.  The commission shall provide its report and recommendations, including draft legislative or regulatory proposals or changes to effect the commission’s recommendations, to the clerks of the house of representations and the senate, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development, and the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than the first anniversary of this resolve.

SECTION 7.  This resolve shall take effect upon its passage.