A N     A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT

Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Cicilline, Gibbs, McCaffrey and Goodwin

Date Introduced : February 10, 1998

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 42-63.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-63.1 entitled "Rhode Island Tourism and Development" is hereby amended to read as follows:

42-63.1-3. Distribution of tax. -- Except as provided in section 42-63.1-12 the proceeds of the hotel tax shall be distributed as follows by division of taxation and the city of Newport:

(a) Forty-seven percent (47%) of the tax generated by the hotels in the district except as otherwise provided in this chapter shall be given to the regional tourism district wherein the hotel is located; provided however, that from the tax generated by the hotels in the city of Warwick, thirty-one percent (31%) of said tax shall be given to the Warwick regional tourism district established in section 42-63.1-5(5) and sixteen percent (16%) of said tax shall be given to the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors' Bureau established in section 42-63.1-11 and provided further, that from the tax generated by the hotels in the city of Providence, thirty-nine and one-half percent (39.5%) of said tax shall be given to the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors' Bureau established by section 42-63.1-11, and seven and one-half percent (7.5%) of said tax shall be given to the Convention Authority of the city of Providence established pursuant to the provisions of chapter 84 of the public laws of January, 1980, provided, however, that the receipts attributable to the district as defined in section 42-63.1-5(7) shall be deposited as general revenues;

(b) {DEL Twenty percent (20%) DEL} {ADD Twenty-five percent (25%) ADD} of the hotel tax shall be given to the city or town wherein the hotel which generated the tax is physically located to be used for whatever purpose the city or town decides.

(c) {DEL Thirty-three (33%) DEL} {ADDTwenty-one (21%)ADD} of the hotel tax shall be deposited as general revenues.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.