Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 22, Article 8, Code of Virginia.

A.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.

B. Upon authorization of the Governor, the Virginia Tourism Authority may transfer funds appropriated to it by this act to a nonstock corporation.

C. 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.

D. The State Comptroller shall disburse the first and second year appropriations in twelve equal monthly installments. 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.

E. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year from the general fund to the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy to develop African-American and other ethnic-American heritage trails in Virginia programs. Funds may be used to support research positions and to develop such programs, as well as to promote and market the programs.

F. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year from the general fund for the Tredegar National Civil War Center, a national comprehensive museum and education center in the City of Richmond.

G. 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 the plans to market and promote the events marking the 400th anniversary of the 1607 settlement at Jamestown. The report shall include, but not be limited to, discussions of the Authority’s plans with other state agencies, localities, public and private partnerships, and other collaborative efforts to promote commemorative events and activities.

H. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year from the general fund for a partnership leveraging program for outdoor resources tourism.

I. Out of this appropriation, the expenditure of $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund to advertise and market the Jamestown 2007 commemoration and for a partnership leveraging program is contingent upon the passage into law of the provisions contained in Enactment Nos. 2, 3 and 5 of Part 5 of introduced House Bill 30/Senate Bill 30 of the 2004 Session.