2003S0608-1 03/12/03


By:  Lindsay                                                      S.B. No. 1466


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the financing of convention center hotels by certain 
counties.  
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subdivision (2), Section 352.001, Tax Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
		(2)  "Convention center facilities" or "convention 
center complex" means civic centers, civic center buildings, 
auditoriums, exhibition halls, and coliseums that are owned by the 
county or that are managed in whole or part by the county.  In a 
county with a population of more than 3.3 million, "convention 
center facilities" or "convention center complex" means civic 
centers, civic center buildings, auditoriums, exhibition halls, 
and coliseums that are owned by the county, or that are managed in 
whole or in part by the county, and hotels owned by the county or a 
nonprofit local government corporation sponsored by the county 
created under Chapter 431, Transportation Code, within 1,000 feet 
of a convention center or stadium.  The term includes parking areas 
or facilities that are for the parking or storage of conveyances and 
that are located at or in the immediate vicinity of other convention 
center facilities.
	SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 352.101, Tax Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The revenue from a tax imposed under this chapter by a 
county having a population of more than 3.3 million may be used only 
for:
		(1)  the acquisition of sites for and the construction, 
improvement, enlarging, equipping, repairing, operation, and 
maintenance of public improvements such as convention center 
facilities or a convention center complex [civic centers, civic 
center buildings, auditoriums, exhibition halls, coliseums,] and 
stadiums, including sports and other facilities that serve the 
purpose of attracting visitors and tourists to the county, and 
parking areas or facilities for the parking or storage of motor 
vehicles or other conveyances, hotels owned by a county or a 
nonprofit local government corporation sponsored by the county 
created under Chapter 431, Transportation Code, within 1,000 feet 
of a convention center or stadium, hotels owned by a municipality or 
a nonprofit municipally sponsored local government corporation 
created under Chapter 431, Transportation Code, within 1,000 feet 
of a convention center owned by a municipality with a population of 
1,500,000 or more, or a historic hotel owned by a municipality or a 
nonprofit municipally sponsored local government corporation 
created under Chapter 431, Transportation Code, within one mile of 
a convention center owned by a municipality with a population of 
1,500,000 or more;
		(2)  the furnishing of facilities, personnel, and 
materials for the registration of convention delegates or 
registrants; and
		(3)  general promotion and tourist advertising of the 
county and its vicinity and conducting a solicitation program to 
attract conventions and visitors, any of which may be conducted by 
the county or through contracts with persons or organizations 
selected by the county.
	SECTION 3.  Section 1477.302, Government Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 1477.302.  AUTHORITY FOR VISITOR OR TOURIST 
ATTRACTIONS.  (a)  A county may establish, acquire, lease as lessor 
or lessee, construct, improve, enlarge, equip, repair, operate, or 
maintain:
		(1)  a public improvement or facility to attract 
visitors or tourists to the county, including convention center 
facilities, a convention center complex, a [civic center, a civic 
center building, an auditorium, an exhibition hall, a coliseum,] 
stadium, or other sports facility; or
		(2)  a parking facility located at or in the immediate 
vicinity of an improvement or facility described by Subdivision (1) 
to be used in connection with the improvement or facility for 
off-street parking or storage of motor vehicles or other 
conveyances.
	(b)  In this section, "convention center facilities" and 
"convention center complex" have the meanings assigned by Section 
352.001, Tax Code.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.