A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize the town of ahoskie to levy a room occupancy and tourism development tax and to amend the occupancy tax in Halifax county.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
part i.  halifax occupancy tax
SECTION 1.  Chapter 377 of the 1987 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 2005‑46, reads as rewritten:
"Section 1.  Occupancy Tax. – (a)  Authorization and Scope. – The Halifax County Board of Commissioners may levy a room occupancy tax of three percent (3%) of the gross receipts derived from the rental of any room, lodging, or similar accommodation furnished by a hotel, motel, inn, or similar place within the county that is subject to sales tax imposed by the State under G.S 105‑164.4(a)(3). This tax is in addition to any State or local sales tax. This tax does not apply to accommodations furnished by nonprofit charitable, educational, or religious organizations.
(a1)	Authorization of Additional Tax. – In addition to the tax authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the Halifax County Board of Commissioners may levy an additional room occupancy tax of up to two percent (2%) of the gross receipts derived from the rental of accommodations taxable under subsection (a) of this section. The levy, collection, administration, and repeal of the tax authorized by this subsection shall be in accordance with the provisions of this section. Halifax County may not levy a tax under this subsection unless it also levies the tax authorized under subsection (a) of this section.
(b)	Administration. – A tax levied under this section shall be levied, administered, collected, and repealed as provided in G.S. 153A‑155. The penalties provided in G.S. 153A‑155 apply to a tax levied under this section.
(c)	Distribution and Use of Tax Revenue. – Halifax County shall, on a quarterly basis, remit the net proceeds of the occupancy tax to the Halifax County Tourism Development Authority. The Authority shall use at least two‑thirds of the funds remitted to it under this subsection to promote travel and tourism in Halifax County and shall use the remainder for tourism‑related expenditures.
The following definitions apply to this subsection:
(1)	Net proceeds. – Gross proceeds less the cost to the county of administering and collecting the tax, as determined by the finance officer, not to exceed three percent (3%) of the first five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) of the gross proceeds collected each year and one percent (1%) of the remaining gross receipts collected each year.
(2)	Promote travel and tourism. – To advertise or market an area or activity, publish and distribute pamphlets and other materials, conduct market research, or engage in similar promotional activities that attract tourists or business travelers to the area; the term includes administrative expenses incurred in engaging in the listed activities.
(3)	Tourism‑related expenditures. – Expenditures that, in the judgment of the Tourism Development Authority, are designed to increase the use of lodging facilities, meeting facilities, or convention facilities in the county by attracting tourists or business travelers to the county. The term includes tourism‑related capital expenditures.
"Sec. 2.  Tourism Development Authority. – (a)  Appointment and Membership. – When the Halifax County Board of Commissioners adopts a resolution levying a room occupancy tax under this act, it shall also adopt a resolution creating a county Tourism Development Authority, which shall be a public authority under the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. The resolution shall provide for the membership of the Authority including the members' qualifications and terms of office, and for the filling of vacancies on the Authority. At least one‑fifth of the members must be individuals who are affiliated with businesses that collect the tax in the county, and at least one‑half of the members must be individuals who are currently active in the promotion of travel and tourism in the county. The board of commissioners shall designate one member of the Authority as chair and shall determine the compensation, if any, to be paid to members of the Authority.
The Authority shall meet at the call of the chair and shall adopt rules of procedure to govern its meetings. The Finance Officer for Halifax County shall be the ex officio finance officer of the Authority.
(b)	Duties. – The Authority must expend the net proceeds of the tax levied under this act for the purposes provided in Section 1 of this act. The Authority must promote travel, tourism, and conventions in the county, sponsor tourist‑related events and activities in the county, and finance tourist‑related capital projects in the county.
(c)	Reports. – The Authority shall report quarterly and at the close of the fiscal year to the Halifax County Board of  Commissioners on its receipts and expenditures for the preceding quarter and for the year in such detail as the Board may require.
"Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification."
part iI. town of ahoskie occupancy tax
SECTION 2.1.  Occupancy Tax. – (a)  Authorization and Scope. – The Ahoskie Town Council may levy a room occupancy tax of up to three percent (3%) of the gross receipts derived from the rental of any room, lodging, or accommodation furnished by a hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, or similar place within the town that is subject to sales tax imposed by the State under G.S. 105‑164.4(a)(3).  This tax is in addition to any State or local sales tax.  This tax does not apply to accommodations furnished by nonprofit charitable, educational, or religious organizations when furnished in furtherance of their nonprofit purpose.
SECTION 2.1.(b)  Administration. – A tax levied under this part shall be levied, administered, collected, and repealed as provided in G.S. 160A‑215.  The penalties provided in G.S. 160A‑215 apply to a tax levied under this part.
SECTION 2.1.(c)  Distribution and Use of Tax Revenue. – The Town of Ahoskie shall, on a quarterly basis, remit the net proceeds of the occupancy tax to the Town of Ahoskie Tourism Development Authority.  The Authority shall use at least two‑thirds of the funds remitted to it under this part to promote travel and tourism in the town and shall use the remainder for tourism‑related expenditures.
The following definitions apply in this part:
(1)	Net proceeds. – Gross proceeds less the cost to the town of administering and collecting the tax, as determined by the finance officer, not to exceed three percent (3%) of the first five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) of gross proceeds collected each year and one percent (1%) of the remaining gross receipts collected each year.
(2)	Promote travel and tourism. – To advertise or market an area or activity, publish and distribute pamphlets and other materials, conduct market research, or engage in similar promotional activities that attract tourists or business travelers to the area. The term includes administrative expenses incurred in engaging in the listed activities.
(3)	Tourism‑related expenditures. – Expenditures that, in the judgment of the Tourism Development Authority, are designed to increase the use of lodging facilities, meeting facilities, or convention facilities in a town or to attract tourists or business travelers to the town. The term includes tourism‑related capital expenditures.
SECTION 2.2.  Town of Ahoskie Tourism Development Authority. – (a)  Appointment and Membership. – When the Ahoskie Town Council adopts a resolution levying a room occupancy tax under this part, it shall also adopt a resolution creating a town Tourism Development Authority, which shall be a public authority under the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act.  The resolution shall provide for the membership of the Authority, including the members' terms of office, and for the filling of vacancies on the Authority.  At least one‑third of the members must be individuals affiliated with businesses that collect the tax in the town, and at least one‑half of the members must be individuals currently active in the promotion of travel and tourism in the town.  The town council shall designate one member of the Authority as chair and shall determine the compensation, if any, to be paid to members of the Authority.
The Authority shall meet at the call of the chair and shall adopt rules of procedure to govern its meetings. The Finance Officer for the Town of Ahoskie shall be the ex officio finance officer of the Authority.
SECTION 2.2.(b)  Duties. – The Authority shall expend the net proceeds of the tax levied under this part for the purposes provided in this part.  The Authority shall promote travel, tourism, and conventions in the town, sponsor tourist‑related events and activities in the town, and finance tourist‑related capital projects in the town.
SECTION 2.2.(c)  Reports. – The Authority shall report quarterly and at the close of the fiscal year to the Ahoskie Town Council on its receipts and expenditures for the preceding quarter and for the year in such detail as the town council may require.
part iii.  uniform provisions
SECTION 3.  G.S. 160A‑215(g) reads as rewritten:
"(g)	This section applies only to Beech Mountain District W, to the Cities of Belmont, Elizabeth City, Eden, Gastonia, Goldsboro, Greensboro, High Point, Kings Mountain, Lexington, Lincolnton, Lumberton, Monroe, Mount Airy, Reidsville, Roanoke Rapids, Shelby, Statesville, Washington, and Wilmington, to the Towns of Ahoskie, Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Carolina Beach, Carrboro, Franklin, Kure Beach, Jonesville, Mooresville, North Topsail Beach, Selma, Smithfield, St. Pauls, Troutman, West Jefferson, Wilkesboro, and Wrightsville Beach, and to the municipalities in Avery and Brunswick Counties."
part iv.  effective date
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.