Senate Bill No. 502

(By Senators Sprouse, McCabe and Rowe)

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[Introduced February 5, 2002; referred to the Committee

on Government Organization; and then to the Committee on Finance .]

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A BILL to amend and reenact sections two, nine and fourteen, article eighteen, chapter seven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, all relating to the hotel occupancy tax and the expenditure of revenues collected therefrom; providing municipalities the power to increase the rate of the tax to an amount up to seven percent; requiring that a minimum percentage of the revenue collected from the tax be expended for the promotion of conventions and tourism; providing that balance of revenues collected from the tax may be expended on the establishment, planning, construction and improvement of arenas, auditoriums, civic centers, convention facilities, sports facilities, parks and stadiums; permitting the financing of such facilities and projects from proceeds of revenue bonds; providing that hotel occupancy tax revenues may be used to repay the bonds; and permitting the pledge by a county or municipality of all or portion of the tax to secure the payment of debt service in connection with any financing obtained for such facilities and projects.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections two, nine and fourteen, article eighteen, chapter seven of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
ARTICLE 18. HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
§7-18-2. Rate of tax.
The rate of tax imposed shall be three percent of the consideration paid for the use or occupancy of a hotel room: Provided, That on and after the first day of July, two thousand two, a municipality may increase the rate of tax set forth in this section up to an amount not to exceed seven percent of the consideration paid for the use or occupancy of a hotel room. Such The consideration shall may not include the amount of tax imposed on the transaction under article fifteen, chapter eleven of this code, or charges for meals, valet service, room service, telephone service or other charges or consideration not paid for use or occupancy of a hotel room.
§7-18-9. Total amount collected to be remitted.
No profit shall may accrue to any person as a result of the collection of the tax authorized under this article. Notwithstanding that the total amount of such taxes collected by a hotel operator may be in excess of the amount for which a consumer would be liable by the application of the levy of three percent imposed under this article for the occupancy of a hotel room or rooms, the total amount of all taxes collected by any hotel operator shall be remitted to the taxing authority as hereinafter provided.
§7-18-14. Proceeds of tax; application of proceeds.
(a) Application of proceeds. -- The net proceeds of the tax collected and remitted to the taxing authority pursuant to this article shall be deposited into the general revenue fund of such the municipality or county commission and, after appropriation thereof, shall be expended only as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section: Provided, That all or any portion of the tax collections may instead be deposited into a special revenue fund as the municipality or county commission may direct, to be applied as set forth in the preceding sentence.
(b) Required expenditures. -- At least fifty percent of From the net revenue receivable during the fiscal year by a county or a municipality pursuant to this article shall be expended a county or municipality shall expend at least fifty percent of the revenue calculated on the basis of a maximum rate of tax equal to three percent in the following manner set forth in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection for the promotion of conventions and tourism:
(1) Municipalities. -- If a convention and visitor's bureau is located within the municipality, county or region, the governing body of such the municipality shall appropriate the percentage required by this subsection to that bureau. If a convention and visitor's bureau is not located within such municipality, county or region, then the percentage appropriation required by this subsection shall be appropriated as follows:
(i) Any hotel located within such municipality, county or region may apply to such the municipality for an appropriation to such the hotel of a portion of the tax authorized by this article and collected by such the hotel and remitted to such the municipality, for uses directly related to the promotion of tourism and travel, including advertising, salaries, travel, office expenses, publications and similar expenses. The portion of such tax allocable to such the hotel shall may not exceed seventy-five percent of that portion of such the tax collected and remitted by such the hotel which is required to be expended pursuant to this subsection: Provided, That prior to appropriating any moneys to such the hotel such the municipality shall require the submission of, and give approval to, a budget setting forth the proposed uses of such the moneys.
(ii) If there is more than one convention and visitor's bureau located within a municipality, county or region, the city council may allocate the tax authorized by this article to one or more of such the bureaus in such portion as the city council in its sole discretion determines.
(iii) The balance of net revenue required to be expended by this subsection shall be appropriated to the regional travel council serving the area in which the municipality is located.
(2) Counties. -- If a convention and visitor's bureau is located within a county or region, the county commission shall appropriate the percentage required by this subsection to that convention and visitor's bureau. If a convention and visitor's bureau is not located within such county or region, then the percentage appropriation required by this subsection shall be appropriated as follows:
(i) Any hotel located within such the county or region may apply to such the county for an appropriation to such the hotel of a portion of the tax authorized by this article and collected by such the hotel and remitted to such the county, for uses directly related to the promotion of tourism and travel, including advertising, salaries, travel, office expenses, publications and similar expenses. The portion of such the tax allocable to such the hotel shall may not exceed seventy-five percent of that portion of such the tax collected and remitted by such the hotel which is required to be expended pursuant to this subsection: Provided, That prior to appropriating any moneys to such the hotel such the county shall require the submission of, and give approval to, a budget setting forth the proposed uses of such the moneys.
(ii) If there is more than one convention and visitor's bureau located within a county or region, the county commission may allocate the tax authorized by this article to one or more of such the bureaus in such portion as the county commission in its sole discretion determines.
(iii) The balance of net revenue required to be expended by this subsection shall be appropriated to the regional travel council serving the area in which the county is located.
(3) Legislative finding. -- The Legislature finds and declares that in order to attract new business and industry to this state and to retain existing business and industry all to provide the citizens of the state with economic security, and to advance the business prosperity and economic welfare of this state, it is necessary to enhance recreational and tourism opportunities. Therefore, in order to promote recreation and tourism, the Legislature finds that public financial support should be provided for constructing, equipping, improving and maintaining projects, agencies and facilities which promote recreation and tourism. The Legislature hereby further finds that the support of convention and visitor's bureaus, hotels and regional travel councils is a public purpose for which funds may be expended. Local convention and visitor's bureaus, hotels and regional travel councils receiving funds under this subsection may expend such the funds for the payment of administrative expenses, and for the direct or indirect promotion of conventions and tourism, and for any other uses and purposes authorized by subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection.
(c) Permissible expenditures. -- After making the appropriation required by subsection (b) of this section, the remaining portion of the net revenues receivable during the fiscal year by such the county or municipality, pursuant to this article, may be expended by the county or municipality or transferred to any political subdivision, public body, public agency or person and expended thereby, for one or more of the purposes set forth in this subsection, but for no other purpose. The purposes for which expenditures may be made pursuant to this subsection are as follows:
(1) The planning, construction, reconstruction, establishment, acquisition, improvement, renovation, extension, enlargement, equipment, maintenance, repair and operation of publicly owned convention facilities, including, but not limited to, arenas, auditoriums, civic centers and convention centers;
(2) The planning, construction, reconstruction, establishment, acquisition, improvement, renovation, extension, enlargement, equipment, maintenance, repair and operation of sports facilities, parks or stadiums;
(2) (3) The payment of principal or interest or both on revenue bonds issued to finance such convention facilities any expenditure for authorized purposes for any of the projects described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection;
(3) (4) The promotion of conventions;
(4) (5) The construction, operation or maintenance of public parks, tourist information centers and recreation facilities (including land acquisition);
(5) (6) The promotion of the arts;
(6) (7) Historic sites;
(7) (8) Beautification projects; or
(8) (9) Medical care, in an amount not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, in any county where: (i) There is an urgent necessity to preserve the delivery of acute medical care services; (ii) there is an increase in need for acute medical care services directly related to tourism; (iii) recurrent flooding in the county significantly disrupts, on a periodic basis, the delivery of acute medical care services; (iv) there is an inadequate economic base within the county from any source other than tourism to preserve the delivery of acute medical care services; (v) there is an inadequate economic base directly related to low population in the county, specifically, a population of less than ten thousand persons according to the census of the year one thousand nine hundred ninety; and (vi) there is one and only one hospital within the county; and the county commission makes specific findings, by resolution, that all of the foregoing conditions within the county exist; or
(11) Contributions by a county or municipality to promote projects described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, including, but not limited to, the pledge by a county or municipality of all or a portion of net revenues receivable during the fiscal year or receivable in any succeeding fiscal year, pursuant to this article, for contributions to promote those projects and tourism or for the payment of debt service in connection with any financing obtained for such purpose.
Notwithstanding anything in this subsection to the contrary, all revenues received by a municipality from the rate of tax imposed pursuant to this article which are in excess of three percent may only be used for one or more of the purposes set forth in subdivisions (1) through (4) of this subsection.
(d) (e) Pledge of net revenues by municipality. -- A county or municipality may, after making the appropriation required by subsection (b) of this section, pledge all or a portion of net revenues receivable during the fiscal year or receivable in any succeeding fiscal year, pursuant to this article, as security for the payment of principal or interest or both in connection with any financing obtained for any expenditure authorized under subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (c) of this section.
(d) (e) Definitions. -- For purposes of this section, the following terms are defined:
(1) Convention and visitor's bureau and visitor's and convention bureau. -- "Convention and visitor's bureau" and "visitor's and convention bureau" are interchangeable and either shall mean means a nonstock, nonprofit corporation with a full-time staff working exclusively to promote tourism and to attract conventions, conferences and visitors to the municipality, county or region in which such the convention and visitor's bureau or visitor's and convention bureau is located or engaged in business within.
(2) Convention center. -- "Convention center" means a convention facility owned by the state, a county, a municipality or other public entity or instrumentality and shall include includes all facilities, including armories, commercial, office, community service and parking facilities and publicly owned facilities constructed or used for the accommodation and entertainment of tourists and visitors, constructed in conjunction with the convention center and forming reasonable appurtenances thereto.
(3) Fiscal year. -- "Fiscal year" means the year beginning the first day of July and ending the thirtieth day of June of the next calendar year.
(4) Net proceeds. -- "Net proceeds" means the gross amount of tax collections less the amount of tax lawfully refunded.
(5) Promotion of the arts. -- "Promotion of the arts" means activity to promote public appreciation and interest in one or more of the arts. It includes the promotion of music for all types, the dramatic arts, dancing, painting and the creative arts through shows, exhibits, festivals, concerts, musicals and plays.
(6) Recreational facilities. -- "Recreational facilities" means and includes any public park, parkway, playground, public recreation center, athletic field, sports arena, stadium, skating rink or arena, golf course, tennis courts and other park and recreation facilities, whether of a like or different nature, that are owned by a county or municipality.
(7) Region. -- "Region" means an area consisting of one or more counties that have agreed by contract to fund a convention and visitor's bureau to promote those counties.
(8) Regional travel council. -- "Regional travel council" means a nonstock, nonprofit corporation, with a full-time staff working exclusively to promote tourism and to attract conventions, conferences and visitors to the region of this state served by the regional travel council.
(9) Historic site. -- "Historic site" means any site listed on the United States national register of historic places, or listed by a local historical landmarks commission, established under state law, when such these sites are owned by a city, a county or a nonprofit historical association and are open from time to time to accommodate visitors.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit municipalities to increase the rate of the hotel occupancy tax from the current rate of 3% up to a maximum rate of 7% and to allow a portion of the revenues generated by the hotel occupancy tax to be used: (i) To support bond issues to finance the construction and improvement of convention facilities and sports facilities, parks or stadiums; (ii) to provide a source for contributions by a county or municipality to establish and operate such facilities or to pay debt service in connection with any financing obtained for such purpose; or (iii) to secure payment of principal or interest or both in connection with any financing obtained in connection with convention facilities or sports facilities, parks or stadiums. The bill does not alter the requirement under existing law that at least 50% of the revenues attributable to the tax, calculated on the basis of a maximum tax rate of 3%, be appropriated to any convention and visitor's bureau located within the municipality or county. The bill expands the types of projects which may be financed by bond issues supported by hotel occupancy tax revenues.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.