Revision: Feb. 17, 2023, 10:14 a.m.
Rep. Maggiore, Rock. 23
February 16, 2023
2023-0590h
10/07
Floor Amendment to HB 489-FN-A
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT establishing an operational support program for the joint promotional program of the department of business and economic affairs, and making an appropriation therefor.
Amend the bill by replacing all after the enacting clause with the following:
1 New Section; Business and Economic Affairs; Joint Promotional Program; Operational Support. Amend RSA 12-O by inserting after section 17 the following new section:
12-O:17-a Joint Promotional Program; Operational Support Program. An operational support program is hereby established as part of the joint promotional program established in RSA 12-O:17, to support organizations and efforts publicizing the advantages of the state of New Hampshire for tourism.
I. The department shall administer the operational support program. The funds appropriated for this program shall be expended for grants to support the operations of organizations to promote travel and tourism in the state of New Hampshire.
II. Funds appropriated to the operational support program shall only be made available to regional associations, statewide tourist groups, chambers of commerce, county governments, or other promotional organizations with the approval of the commissioner.
III. Grant awards shall require 50 percent matching funds from other sources, not including grant awards received from the joint promotional program established in RSA 12-O:17. The maximum grant amount shall be $40,000.
IV. Grant applications shall be reviewed by appropriate staff, which shall recommend approval or disapproval of applications to the commissioner of business and economic affairs.
V. Funds appropriated for the operational support program for the first fiscal year of any biennium shall not lapse and shall be available for expenditure during the second fiscal year of the biennium. All funds which have not been expended by the end of the second fiscal year of a biennium shall lapse to the general fund.
VI. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A governing the operational support program. The rules shall include:
(a) A description of the proposed operational support program, stating the general course and method of its operations and the methods by which the public may obtain information or make submissions or requests;
(b) The procedures and criteria used to certify groups or organizations eligible for matching grants;
(c) The application process, including the information required of applicants;
(d) The procedures and criteria used to evaluate grant applications; and
(e) Procedures for the administration of grants by recipients, including reporting requirements.
2 Appropriation; Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Division of Travel and Tourism. The sum of $750,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 is hereby appropriated to the department of business and economic affairs, division of travel and tourism for the purposes specified in RSA 12-O:17-a and shall not lapse until June 30, 2025. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect June 30, 2023.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
2023-0590h
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes an operational support program for the joint promotional program for travel and tourism in the department of business and economic affairs and makes an appropriation therefor.