Pennsylvania Act 2002-189 — TRAVEL AND TOURISM ACT

Act text

TRAVEL AND TOURISM ACT
                 Act of Dec. 9, 2002, P.L. 1491, No. 189              Cl. 71
                                  AN ACT

     Providing for the establishment of the Pennsylvania Travel and
        Tourism Partnership and imposing powers and duties on the
        Department of Community and Economic Development related to
        tourism promotion.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

     Section 1.  Short title.
        This act shall be known and may be cited as the Travel and
     Tourism Act.
     Section 2.  Definitions.
        The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
     have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     context clearly indicates otherwise:
        "Department."  The Department of Community and Economic
     Development of the Commonwealth.
        "Partnership."  The Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism
     Partnership established in section 4.
        "Secretary."  The Secretary of Community and Economic
     Development of the Commonwealth.
     Section 3.  Establishment.
        There is hereby established within the department an office
     to be known as the Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism Office.
     Section 4.  Partnership.
        (a)  Establishment.--Within the office there is established
     an advisory board to be known as the Pennsylvania Travel and
     Tourism Partnership.
        (b)  Composition.--The partnership shall consist of 35
     members appointed as follows:
            (1)  The secretary.
            (2)  The chairman and minority chairman of the Community
        and Economic Development Committee of the Senate.
            (3)  The chairman and minority chairman of the Tourism
        and Recreational Development Committee of the House of
        Representatives.
            (4)  Seven members representing State government to be
        appointed by the Governor as follows:
                (i)  One member from the Department of Agriculture.
                (ii)  One member from the Department of Conservation
            and Natural Resources.
                (iii)  One member from the Pennsylvania Historical
            and Museum Commission.
                (iv)  One member from the Department of
            Transportation.
                (v)  One member from the Pennsylvania Game
            Commission.
                (vi)  One member from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
            Commission.
                (vii)  One member from the Pennsylvania Turnpike
            Commission.
            (5)  Three members from county tourism promotion agencies
        to be appointed by the Governor as follows:
                (i)  One member from a county of the first, second or
            second class A.
                (ii)  One member from a county of the third, fourth
            or fifth class.
                (iii)  One member from a county of the sixth, seventh
            or eighth class.
            (6)  One member representing the private sector tourism
        industry to be appointed by the Governor.
            (7)  Thirteen members to be appointed by the Governor as
        follows:
                (i)  One member from the hotel/motel industry.
                (ii)  One member from the skiing or snowmobiling
            sector.
                (iii)  One member from the amusement parks or
            attractions sector.
                (iv)  One member from the private parks or
            campgrounds sector.
                (v)  One member from the museum or historical
            attractions sector.
                (vi)  One member from the arts or theater sector.
                (vii)  One member from the motor coach or travel
            agent industry.
                (viii)  One member from the hunting, fishing or
            boating sector.
                (ix)  One member from the food and beverage industry.
                (x)  One member from the shopping/outlet shopping
            industry.
                (xi)  One member from the outdoor recreation sector.
                (xii)  One member from the wine industry.
                (xiii)  One member from a State-designated heritage
            park area.
            (8)  One member from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
        to be appointed by the Governor.
            (9)  One member from the Pennsylvania Rural Development
        Council to be appointed by the Governor.
            (10)  One member from a State-owned or State-related
        university in this Commonwealth which offers a degree program
        in tourism, culinary arts or hotel or restaurant management
        to be appointed by the Governor.
            (11)  One member from the County Commissioners
        Association of Pennsylvania to be appointed by the Governor.
            (12)  One member from the National Park Service to be
        appointed by the Governor.
            (13)  One member at large to be appointed by the
        Governor.
        (c)  Chair.--The secretary shall chair the partnership and
     appoint a vice chairman to chair partnership meetings in the
     absence of the secretary. The secretary shall inform the
     Governor when a vacancy occurs.
        (d)  Terms.--The secretary shall serve ex officio. Members of
     the Senate and the House of Representatives shall serve two
     years, such terms to run concurrently with the term of the
     legislative session. All other members of the partnership
     initially appointed by the Governor shall continue in office for
     terms of two or three years from the date of their appointment,
     the term of each appointed member to be designated by the
     Governor at the time of the appointment. Successor members of
     the partnership shall be appointed for a term of three years.
     Should a vacancy occur on the partnership, the Governor shall
     appoint a successor to serve the duration of the unexpired term.
     Any person appointed to fill a vacancy for a period of less than
     two years may be eligible for appointment to a full three-year
     term. A member of the partnership who serves a full term or
     fills a vacancy for a period of two years or more shall not be
     eligible for reappointment to the partnership until a period of
     three years expires.
        (e)  Compensation.--Members shall serve without compensation
     but shall receive reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary
     expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their
     duties as members of the partnership.
        (f)  Meetings and quorum.--The partnership shall meet at
     least quarterly and at any other time designated by the
     secretary. Meetings may be held anywhere within this
     Commonwealth. A majority of the members of the partnership shall
     constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a
     meeting.
        (g)  Forfeiture of membership.--A member appointed by the
     Governor in accordance with subsection (b)(5), (6), (7) and (11)
     shall forfeit membership if the member does any of the
     following:
            (1)  Fails to attend three consecutive meetings unless
        the chairman, upon written request of the member, finds that
        the member should be excused from attending a meeting because
        of personal illness or the illness or death of a family
        member.
            (2)  No longer holds a position where the member is
        directly involved with the industry the member was appointed
        to represent. A vacancy occurs when the appointed member
        forfeits his membership.
     Section 5.  Partnership responsibilities.
        The partnership shall do all of the following:
            (1)  Review and make recommendations regarding the
        Commonwealth's five-year strategic master plan for tourism
        development on an annual basis.
            (2)  Review and make recommendations regarding the
        Commonwealth's tourism and marketing plan on an annual basis.
            (3)  Advise the department on policies, procedures,
        legislation and regulations affecting tourism in this
        Commonwealth, including the following areas:
                (i)  Marketing.
                (ii)  Hospitality.
                (iii)  Cultural and heritage tourism.
                (iv)  Outdoor tourism.
                (v)  Communication.
            (4)  Advise the Governor on policy, event financing and
        targeting, marketing materials and tourism-related
        infrastructure projects.
            (5)  Serve as an advisory panel for all requests for
        proposals for services valued at over $5,000,000 which
        pertain to marketing and promotional efforts.
     Section 6.  Cooperation of State agencies.
        The partnership may request and receive from any department,
     division, board, bureau, commission or any other agency of the
     State or any political subdivision or authority such
     cooperation, assistance, information and data necessary to
     properly carry out its powers and duties.
     Section 7.  Effective date.
        This act shall take effect in 60 days.