2021 -- H 5361

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - TOURISM AND

DEVELOPMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives Amore, Kazarian, and Henries

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2021

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-63.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-63.1 entitled "Tourism

and Development" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-63.1-5. Regional tourism districts.

     (a) The state of Rhode Island is divided into eight (8) seven (7) regional tourism districts

to be administered by the tourism council, convention and visitor's bureau or the Rhode Island

commerce corporation established in chapter 42-64 as designated in this section:

     (1) South County district which shall include Westerly, Charlestown, Narragansett, South

Kingstown, North Kingstown, Hopkinton, Exeter, Richmond, West Greenwich, East Greenwich,

and Coventry to be administered by the South County tourism council, inc.;

     (2) Providence district consists of the city of Providence to be administered by the

Convention Authority of the City of Providence.

     (3) Northern Rhode Island district consists of Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Lincoln, Central

Falls, Cumberland, North Smithfield, Smithfield, Glocester, and Burrillville and East Providence

to be administered by the Blackstone Valley tourism council, inc.;

     (4) Aquidneck Island district consists of Barrington, Bristol, Warren, Newport, Jamestown,

Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton to be administered by the Newport and

Bristol County convention and visitors bureau;

     (5) Warwick district consists of the city of Warwick to be administered by the city of

Warwick department of economic development;

     (6) Block Island district which shall consist of the town of New Shoreham to be

administered by the New Shoreham tourism council, inc.;

     (7) East Providence to be administered by an entity that shall be acceptable to the economic

development corporation; provided that all funds generated in the city of East Providence shall be

held by the Rhode Island division of taxation until such time as the city of East Providence elects

to become a member of a regional tourism district at which time the monies held by the Rhode

Island division of taxation shall be transferred to the tourism district or convention visitors' bureau

selected by the city of East Providence;

     (8)(7) Statewide district consists of all cities and towns not delineated in subdivisions (1)

through (7)(6) to be administered by the Rhode Island commerce corporation established in chapter

42-64.

     (b) Before receiving any funds under this chapter, the organizations designated to receive

the funds on behalf of the South County regional tourism district and the Northern Rhode Island

regional tourism district shall be required to apply to and receive approval from the Rhode Island

commerce corporation pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the Rhode Island commerce

corporation. The corporation shall review the eligibility of the regional tourism district

organizations to receive the funds at least annually.

     (c) On or before January 1, 2016 and every January 1 thereafter, all regional tourism

districts created under these sections shall be required to seek and obtain the approval of the

executive office of commerce regarding the incorporation of common statewide marketing themes,

logos, and slogans, among other features, prior to the release of lodging tax funds to the districts.

     (d) Upon proper notice to the Rhode Island division of taxation from the city of East

Providence and the Blackstone Valley tourism council that the city has elected to become a member

of the Northern Rhode Island district, all funds previously generated in the city of East Providence

and held in escrow by the Rhode Island division of taxation shall be allocated fully and in their

entirety to the Blackstone Valley tourism council for the direct benefit and support of tourism

activities within the city of East Providence.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - TOURISM AND

DEVELOPMENT

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     This act would include the city of East Providence in the Northern Rhode Island regional

tourism district, and upon the city of East Providence notifying the Rhode Island division of

taxation and the Blackstone Valley tourism council that the city has elected to become a member

of the regional tourism district, then all funds previously generated in the city of East Providence

and held in escrow by the Rhode Island division of taxation shall be allocated to the Blackstone

Valley tourism council to support tourism activities in East Providence.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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