Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 22, Article 8, Code of Virginia.
A.1. The Department of Transportation shall pay to the Virginia Tourism Authority $1,100,000 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. Included in the amounts in this paragraph is $100,000 each year for maintenance of the Danville Welcome Center.
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, 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, 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, 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 $1,700,000 the first year and $1,700,000 the second year from the general fund to promote the Virginia tourism industries. These funds shall be used, among other purposes, to initiate strategies to expand growth tourism industries such as Virginia history tours, wine and epicurean tours and other packaged travel itineraries.
F. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $425,000 the first year and $425,000 the second year from the general fund for grants to regional and local tourism authorities and other tourism entities to support their efforts.
G. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall place a high priority on marketing rural areas of the state.
H. Included in this Item is $2,500,000 in the first year and $2,500,000 in the second year from the Virginia Tourism Enhancement Fund, in accordance with Item 443 C of this act. The Virginia Tourism Authority shall use these funds for marketing and advertising initiatives.
I. Out of the amounts for Tourist Promotion shall be provided $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from the general fund for the Daniel Boone Visitor Center.