1 New Section; Department of Business and Economic Affairs; County Tourism Development Fund. Amend RSA 12-O by inserting after section 16 the following new section:

12-O:16-a County Tourism Development Fund.

I.(a) There is hereby established in the treasury a nonlapsing fund to be known as the county tourism development fund. Any appropriations received shall be credited to the fund and shall be continually appropriated for the uses specified in this section. The fund shall be administered by the division of travel and tourism development. Moneys in the fund and any interest earned on the fund shall be used for the purpose of promoting and developing county tourism initiatives through the division of travel and tourism development and shall not be used for any other purpose. The director of travel and tourism development shall oversee expenditures from the fund.

(b) The fund balance in any fiscal year shall not exceed $750,000. Each fiscal year, the director of the division of travel and tourism development shall determine the amount needed to maintain the fund balance at $750,000 at the beginning of the fiscal year and shall include such amounts in the department's efficiency expenditure report pursuant to RSA 9:4.

II.(a) Not more than $75,000 per fiscal year shall be available for each of the counties in the state through a grant program to be established by the director of the division of travel and tourism development, department of business and economic affairs. Funds from the grant program shall be used for county tourism development programs, to help counties with efforts they may have for establishment of new tourism regions, place-making efforts, business and recreation development, and other activities designed to increase their tourist and business dollars. The director may allocate funding to counties, at his or her discretion, based on a county's specific need. The director shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the implementation and administration of the grant program, including necessary forms, applications, information required, review of applications, deadlines, notification to applicants, and distribution of funds.

II.(a) Funding for the grant program established under this paragraph shall be from funds credited to the division under RSA 12-O:11-b from meals and rooms tax revenues.

2 Division of Travel and Tourism; County Tourism Development Program. 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:16-a. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 New Section; Department of Business and Economic Affairs; County Tourism Development Fund. Amend RSA 12-O by inserting after section 16 the following new section:

12-O:16-a County Tourism Development Fund.

I.(a) There is hereby established in the treasury a nonlapsing fund to be known as the county tourism development fund. Any appropriations received shall be credited to the fund and shall be continually appropriated for the uses specified in this section. The fund shall be administered by the division of travel and tourism development. Moneys in the fund and any interest earned on the fund shall be used for the purpose of promoting and developing county tourism initiatives through the division of travel and tourism development and shall not be used for any other purpose. The director of travel and tourism development shall oversee expenditures from the fund.

(b) The fund balance in any fiscal year shall not exceed $750,000. Each fiscal year, the director of the division of travel and tourism development shall determine the amount needed to maintain the fund balance at $750,000 at the beginning of the fiscal year and shall include such amounts in the department's efficiency expenditure report pursuant to RSA 9:4.

II.(a) Not more than $75,000 per fiscal year shall be available for each of the counties in the state through a grant program to be established by the director of the division of travel and tourism development, department of business and economic affairs. Funds from the grant program shall be used for county tourism development programs, to help counties with efforts they may have for establishment of new tourism regions, place-making efforts, business and recreation development, and other activities designed to increase their tourist and business dollars. The director may allocate funding to counties, at his or her discretion, based on a county's specific need. The director shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, relative to the implementation and administration of the grant program, including necessary forms, applications, information required, review of applications, deadlines, notification to applicants, and distribution of funds.

II.(a) Funding for the grant program established under this paragraph shall be from funds credited to the division under RSA 12-O:11-b from meals and rooms tax revenues.

2 Division of Travel and Tourism; County Tourism Development Program. 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:16-a. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.