By Pitts H.B. No. 2778
76R7150 SMJ-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the allocation of a portion of the revenue from the
1-3 hotel occupancy tax for use in international marketing activities.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 156.251, Tax Code, is amended to read as
1-6 follows:
1-7 Sec. 156.251. REVENUE DEPOSITED IN GENERAL REVENUE FUND.
1-8 (a) The revenue from the tax imposed by this chapter shall be
1-9 deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the general
1-10 revenue fund.
1-11 (b) [(d)] An amount equal to the amount of revenue derived
1-12 from the collection of taxes imposed by this chapter at a rate of
1-13 one-half of one percent shall be allocated in the general revenue
1-14 fund to be used for media advertising and other marketing
1-15 activities of the Tourism Division of the Texas Department of
1-16 Economic Development [Commerce. Section 403.094(h), Government
1-17 Code, does not apply to funds described in this section. This
1-18 subsection takes effect October 1, 1994].
1-19 (c) An amount equal to the amount of revenue derived from
1-20 the collection of taxes imposed by this chapter at a rate of
1-21 one-half of one percent shall be allocated in the general revenue
1-22 fund to be used by the Tourism Division of the Texas Department of
1-23 Economic Development for the following international marketing
1-24 activities:
2-1 (1) developing promotional materials in foreign
2-2 languages;
2-3 (2) increasing advertising to international markets;
2-4 (3) increasing participation in international
2-5 conventions and trade shows;
2-6 (4) increasing international direct sales efforts; and
2-7 (5) expanding representation in international markets
2-8 through contractual arrangements.
2-9 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
2-10 applies only to the proceeds from the collection of the taxes
2-11 imposed under Chapter 156, Tax Code, on or after that date.
2-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.