Amendment #297 to H3600

Tourism Fund

Mr. Muratore of Plymouth moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION XXXX.

Chapter 23A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 13T, as inserted by section 39 of chapter 133 of the acts of 2016, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 13T. (a) There shall be a Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund which shall be administered by the Massachusetts marketing partnership established in section 13A and held by the partnership separate and apart from its other funds. The fund shall be credited with $10,000,000 from the room occupancy excise imposed by section 3 of chapter 64G and section 22 of chapter 546 of the acts of 1969; provided that funds so credited shall not be subject to fringe benefits and indirect costs assessed by the comptroller of the commonwealth.

(b) There shall also be credited to the fund all revenue as designated under the Gaming Revenue Fund pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (2) of section 59 of chapter 23K.

(c) All available money in the fund that is unexpended at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure by the fund in the subsequent fiscal year.

(d) Money in the fund shall be applied as follows:

(i) $4,000,000 for the operation of the Massachusetts marketing partnership;

(ii) $3,000,000 for grants to regional tourism councils; and

(iii) $3,000,000 for the Massachusetts marketing partnership, which may promote four hundredth anniversary celebrations of municipalities within the commonwealth and the founding of the United States and celebrations, events and marketing of other milestones and achievements that are significant in the history of the commonwealth; provided further, that eligible entities to receive grant funding include, but are not limited to: regional tourism councils, non-profit organizations, and municipalities.

(e) The Massachusetts marketing partnership shall submit an annual report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development not later than December 31 on the cost-effectiveness of the fund. The report shall be made available on the office of travel and tourism's website. The report shall include: (i) expenditures made by the partnership from money out of the fund to promote tourism; (ii) expenditures made by the partnership for administrative costs; (iii) expenditures made by the regional tourism councils to promote tourism; and (iv) expenditures made by the regional tourism councils for administrative costs."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #297 to H3600

Tourism Fund