Bill Text: GA SR719 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Tourism Promotion Joint Study Commission; create

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-29 - Senate Read Second Time [SR719 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SR719-Introduced.html

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12 LC 33 4460

Senate Resolution 719

By: Senators Albers of the 56th, Chance of the 16th, Loudermilk of the 52nd and McKoon of the 29th

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Tourism Promotion Joint Study Commission; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the tourism industry is a vital component in Georgia's economic prosperity; and

WHEREAS, various factors impact the accessibility to and awareness of tourism opportunities, including technology, branding, and planning tools providing information for tourism destinations, attractions, and special events; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that the State of Georgia develop policies to promote tourism, conventions, and trade shows in Georgia and to ensure that all of the essential stakeholders work in concert with each other towards such end; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly is committed to studying and determining the best and most efficient path to such goal.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that there is created the Tourism Promotion Joint Study Commission to be composed of 12 members as follows:

(1) One member of the Senate Economic Development Committee appointed by the chairperson of the committee and one member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Assignments;

(2) One member of the House Committee on Economic Development appointed by the chairperson of the committee and one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) Three individuals from the private sector, with one such member each being appointed by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) The commissioner of economic development or his or her designee;

(5) The commissioner of natural resources or his or her designee;

(6) The commissioner of transportation or his or her designee;

(7) The commissioner of community affairs or his or her designee; and

(8) The chairperson of the Georgia Ports Authority or his or her designee.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Assignments shall each appoint a co-chair of the commission. The commission may establish various subcommittees with subject matter expertise to advise the commission on specific matters, which shall be chaired by a member of the study commission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall:

(1) Inventory Georgia's existing tourism destinations, attractions, and special events and determine the potential for the development of future destinations, attractions, and special events in Georgia;

(2) Identify stakeholders and community partners, including convention and visitors bureaus, tourism councils, chambers of commerce, and other entities which play a vital role in the tourism industry in Georgia;

(3) Conduct review of state and national policies to discern best practices and lessons learned with regard to public policy that encourages tourism to this state;

(4) Conduct meetings around the state to solicit input from stakeholders with a specific interest in identifying barriers to growth and progress; and

(5) Develop specific recommendations with regard to the scope and content of a strategic plan for increasing tourism in Georgia. Such recommendations shall stipulate what the commission recommends should be excluded from such a plan.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all executive departments, agencies, boards, and commissions and other divisions of the executive branch of state government shall fully cooperate with the commission, and any nonprofit entities designated by the commission that promote and support tourism may assist the commission in the performance of its duties and may provide staff assistance and any other assistance as requested.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation that the commission deems necessary or appropriate. The commission may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the commission shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees. The members of the commission shall serve without compensation. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives. No later than January 14, 2013, the commission shall submit its recommendations for the development of a strategic plan to the Governor, the Senate Committee on Assignments, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The commission shall stand abolished on January 14, 2013.