Title 4. Tourism, Film, and the Arts — Subtitle 2. Maryland Tourism Development Board

11 members appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Secretary and with the advice and consent of the Senate;

three members appointed by the Governor who are directors or chief executive officers from among the destination marketing organizations officially recognized by the Office;

five members appointed by the President of the Senate of Maryland as follows:

five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates as follows:

ensure that each geographic region of the State is represented equitably;

give due consideration to the recommendations of representatives of the tourism industry; and

provide balanced representation of the lodging, food service, transportation, retail, and amusements and attractions sectors of the tourism industry.

A member of the General Assembly appointed by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House serves until a successor is appointed.

A member appointed by the Governor may be removed by the Governor with or without cause.

A private business community member appointed by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House may be removed by the appointing officer with or without cause.

may not receive compensation as a member of the Board; but

is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

adopt regulations to carry out this subtitle;

enter into contracts and agreements;

obtain services;

ask any other unit of the State for assistance and data that enable the Board to carry out its powers and duties;

accept federal money for any purpose of this subtitle; and

accept gifts, donations, or bequests for any purpose of this subtitle.

$2,350,000 in total for fiscal year 2011; and

$2,500,000 in total for fiscal year 2012 and for each fiscal year thereafter.

money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and

money that the Board accepts under § 4-209 of this subtitle.

The Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.

Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Tourism tax increment” means the amount, if any, by which the tourism tax revenues collected in the fiscal year 2 years before a particular fiscal year exceeds the tourism tax revenues collected in the fiscal year 3 years before the particular fiscal year.

“Tourism tax revenues” means sales and use tax revenues collected on the retail sale of tourist–oriented goods and services, as determined by the Comptroller under subsection (c)(3) of this section.

For each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill a proposed General Fund appropriation to the Fund of $5,000,000.

For fiscal year 2013 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill a proposed General Fund appropriation to the Fund in an amount not less than $6,000,000 for each fiscal year.

On or before August 1 of each year, the Comptroller shall calculate the amount of the qualifying tourism tax increment for the current fiscal year in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection.

The qualifying tourism tax increment is:

The Comptroller shall:

The Governor shall consider whether to include the amount of the qualifying tourism tax increment in the appropriation to the Fund in the proposed State budget for the next fiscal year, in addition to the amount to be included in the budget bill under subsection (b) of this section.

This subsection may not be construed to require funding in the State budget of the qualifying tourism tax increment.

If the proposed State budget for a particular fiscal year includes an appropriation to the Fund under this subsection, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the total annual funding appropriated to the Fund in any fiscal year not exceed by more than $5,000,000 the sum of:

On or before December 1 of each year beginning in 2015, in cooperation with the Board and the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, the Department shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on the effectiveness of the funding provided under subsections (b) and (c) of this section in increasing visitor attendance and visitor spending in Maryland.

The report shall include information that addresses the following: