Authority: Discretionary Inclusion

A. The Department of Transportation shall pay to the Virginia Tourism Authority $450,000 the second year for continued operation of the Welcome Centers. Additional revenues needed to operate the Welcome Centers in the second year shall be collected by the Authority from fees paid by businesses for display space. The Department of Transportation shall provide maintenance at each facility.

B. The Authority is authorized to spend $200,000 the second year from the general fund to support the "See Virginia First" cooperative advertising program operated by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters.

C. The Authority is authorized to spend $110,000 the second year from the general fund to support the "See Virginia First" cooperative advertising program operated by the Outdoor Advertising Association of Virginia.

D. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $6,750,000 the second year from the general fund for the Cooperative Advertising Program.

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

F.1. Before the beginning 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. Within two months after the end of the fiscal year, the Authority shall provide a detailed expenditure report for the concluded fiscal year.

2. Within two months after the end of the fiscal year, the Authority shall submit to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees a listing of the salaries and bonuses for all Authority employees for the concluded fiscal year.

3. The format for all three reports shall be developed with and approved by the Department of Planning and Budget.

G. The State Comptroller shall disburse the second year appropriation 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.

H. The Potomac Gateway Welcome Center shall provide a report to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by November 5, 1999, on the status of its construction project, the numbers of tourists using the Center, and the estimated economic impact of the Center on the Northern Neck Peninsula.

I. Out of this Item, $50,000 the second year from the general fund shall be transferred to the Virginia Southwest Blue Ridge Highlands to assist with tourism and marketing of Southwest Virginia. The organization shall provide a report by November 4, 1999, on its current and future activities, finances, and accomplishments. The report shall be submitted to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees.

J. Out of the amounts in this Item shall be provided $75,000 the second year from the general fund to provide support to the Coalfield Tourism Authority. The Authority shall provide a report by November 4, 1999, on its current and future activities, finances, and accomplishments. The report shall be submitted to the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees.

K. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership for the Partnership to provide administrative and support services for the Authority until July 1, 2000, or until the Authority is able to provide such services.

L. Out of the amounts in this Item shall be provided $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund to be used to enter into public-private partnerships to establish regional visitor centers.

M. Out of the amounts in this Item shall be provided $119,000 the second year from the general fund to support a representative to be based in Los Angeles, California, to work on behalf of the Virginia Film Office and Virginia’s film production community to actively market the Commonwealth as a location for movie productions to studios, production companies, and production personnel.

N. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall study the feasibility of establishing Virginia as a golfing destination through the development of a coordinated system of golf facilities throughout the Commonwealth.

O. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall conduct an audit of governmental regulations impacting the film industry in Virginia, and shall identify those regulations that are an obstacle to the film industry. The Authority shall complete this audit by January 1, 2000, and shall report this information to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

P. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall conduct a study of the labor requirements of the film industry and determine which educational institutions (vocational, community college, or university) are most appropriately positioned to establish and operate workforce training programs dedicated to creating a highly skilled workforce for the film industry. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall report the results of this study to the Secretaries of Education and Commerce and Trade by January 1, 2000.