By Coleman                                            H.B. No. 1177
         77R4272 MTB-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the Texas Department of Economic Development's duty to
 1-3     promote tourism.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 481.172, Government Code, as amended by
 1-6     Chapter 1041, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997,
 1-7     and by Chapter 1275, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,
 1-8     1997, is amended to read as follows:
 1-9           Sec. 481.172.  DUTIES. The department shall:
1-10                 (1)  promote and advertise within the United States and
1-11     in foreign countries, by radio, television, newspaper, the
1-12     Internet, and other means considered appropriate, tourism in this
1-13     state [by non-Texans], including tourism by persons from foreign
1-14     countries, and distribute promotional materials through appropriate
1-15     distribution channels;
1-16                 (2)  represent the state in domestic and international
1-17     travel trade shows, trade missions, and seminars;
1-18                 (3)  encourage travel by Texans to this state's scenic,
1-19     historical, natural, agricultural, educational, recreational, and
1-20     other attractions;
1-21                 (4)  conduct a public relations campaign to create a
1-22     responsible and accurate national and international image of this
1-23     state;
1-24                 (5)  use current market research to develop a tourism
 2-1     marketing plan to increase travel to the state by domestic and
 2-2     international visitors;
 2-3                 (6)  develop methods to attract tourist attractions to
 2-4     the state;
 2-5                 (7)  assist communities to develop tourist attractions;
 2-6     [and]
 2-7                 (8)  cooperate fully with the Parks and Wildlife
 2-8     Department, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas
 2-9     Historical Commission, and the Texas Commission on the Arts in all
2-10     matters relating to promotion of tourism; and[.]
2-11                 (9) [(8)]  promote and encourage the horse racing and
2-12     greyhound racing industry, if funds are appropriated for the
2-13     promotion or encouragement.
2-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-15     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-16     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-17     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-18     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.