Consolidate Tourism Authority

Item 129 #15h

Language
Page 82, line 34, strike "$17,539,131" and insert "$35,272,659".
Page 82, line 34, strike "$31,539,131" and insert "$48,559,281".
Page 84, after line 41, insert:
"L.  Notwithstanding §§2.2-2315 through 2.2-2326, Code of Virginia, effective July 1, 2002, the Virginia Tourism Authority shall be consolidated under this item as a division of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership under the authority of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.  Cost savings from this consolidation are estimated at $237,885 the first year and $951,542 the second year.  The Governor shall prepare legislation for consideration by the 2003 General Assembly that completes the consolidation through statute.
M.1. The Department of Transportation shall pay to the Virginia Tourism Authority $1,000,000 each year for continued operation of the Welcome Centers. The Department of Transportation shall fund maintenance at each facility based on the agreed-upon service levels contained in the Memorandum of Agreement between the Virginia Tourism Authority and the Department of Transportation.
2. To the extent necessary to fund the operations of the Welcome Centers, the Virginia Tourism Authority is authorized to collect fees paid by businesses for display space at the Welcome Centers.
N.1. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $5,585,000 the first year and $5,585,000 the second year from the general fund for the cooperative advertising program matching grants and direct administrative expenses.
2. Out of the amounts provided for the cooperative advertising program, at least $250,000 the first year and at least $250,000 the second year from the general fund shall be used to market and promote Virginia's African-American heritage sites, programs, and events.
3. Applicants for grants from the cooperative advertising program shall submit a Letter of Intent in August of each year and a completed application the following January for grants to be awarded in the following fiscal year.
4. Funds shall be distributed in accordance with the program rules and reporting requirements adopted by the Virginia Tourism Authority Board of Directors.
O. Upon authorization of the Governor, the Virginia Tourism Authority may transfer funds appropriated to it by this act to a nonstock corporation.
P. Prior to July 1 of each fiscal year, the Virginia Tourism Authority shall provide to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget a report of its operating plan. Prior to September 1 of each fiscal year, the Authority shall provide to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget a detailed expenditure report and a listing of the salaries and bonuses for all Authority employees for the prior fiscal year. All three reports shall be prepared in the formats as previously approved by the Department of Planning and Budget.
Q. The State Comptroller shall disburse the first-and second-year appropriations as follows: Twenty percent (20%) in the first month, fifteen percent (15%) in each of the second and third months, six percent (6%) in each of the fourth through the tenth months, and four percent (4%) in each of the last two months. The Director of the Department of Planning and Budget may authorize an increase in disbursements for any month, not to exceed the total appropriation for the fiscal year, if such an advance is necessary to meet payment obligations.
R. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund for the Regional Tourism Promotion Advertising Program. Grant awards are to be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by any group of at least three tourism partners for regional tourism promotion advertising campaigns.
S. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $200,000 the first year and $200,000 the second year from the general fund to the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy to develop the "African-American Heritage Trails in Virginia" program. Funds may be used to support research positions and to develop a database of African-American sites, as well as to promote and market the sites.
T. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall offer souvenir items for sale at the Bell Tower visitor information center in Capitol Square. Such souvenir items shall be stocked and available for direct purchase at the visitor information center. Net proceeds from the sale of souvenirs shall be used for Virginia Tourism Authority projects designed to increase tourism in the Commonwealth.
U. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall report to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by October 1 of each year on the status of plans for the events marking the 400th anniversary of the 1607 settlement at Jamestown. The report shall include a discussion of cooperative arrangements and plans of state agencies, institutions of higher education, and other entities, including, but not limited to, the Virginia Tourism Authority, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, the National Park Service, and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
V. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall report by December 1 of each year to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees on its core marketing and advertising programs. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the goals, objectives and strategies of the Authority's marketing and advertising programs; the media used and dollars spent for advertising and the effectiveness and efficiencies of each; the events and sites the Authority markets including the location of these events by region; the financial relationships between the Authority and its public and private partners; and other such relevant information. "

Explanation
(This amendment consolidates the Virginia Tourism Authority into the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. A companion amendment eliminates Item 135 from the act.)