2015 -- S 0840

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- TOURISM AND

DEVELOPMENT

     Introduced By: Senator Dennis L. Algiere

     Date Introduced: April 15, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     (by request)

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

"Tourism and Development" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-63.1-3. Distribution of tax. -- Except as provided in § 42-63.1-12, the proceeds of the

hotel tax shall be distributed as follows by the division of taxation and the city of Newport:

      (1) 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 the tax shall be given to the Warwick regional tourism district

established in § 42-63.1-5(a)(5) and sixteen percent (16%) of the tax shall be given to the Greater

Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors' Bureau established in § 42-63.1-11; and provided

further, that from the tax generated by the hotels in the city of Providence, sixteen percent (16%)

of that tax shall be given to the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors' Bureau

established by § 42-63.1-11, and thirty-one percent (31%) of that 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 § 42-63.1-5(a)(7) shall be deposited as general revenues;

      (2) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the hotel tax shall be given to the city or town where

the hotel, which generated the tax, is physically located, to be used for whatever purpose the city

or town decides; provided, that for the hotel tax generated by hotels in the town of Westerly,

thirty-two percent (32%) of the hotel tax shall be given to the town of Westerly, to be used for

whatever purpose the town of Westerly decides; and seven percent (7%) of which shall be used

for tourism and marketing services.

      (3) Twenty-one (21%) of the hotel tax shall be deposited as general revenues and seven

percent (7%) to the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors' Bureau, except for the

tax generated by the hotels in the town of Westerly which shall be allocated as provided in

subsection (2) above.

     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 increase the town of Westerly's share of the hotel tax revenue generated

by hotels located in the town of Westerly from twenty-five percent (25%) to thirty-two percent

(32%).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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