By Lindsay S.B. No. 919
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.