O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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PA 21-94—sHB 6603
Commerce Committee
Planning and Development Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING TO URISM
SUMMARY: This act allows two or more municipalities to jointly appoint one
representative to a regional tourism board of directors. Under the act, the jointly
appointed representative (1) is deemed present for each appointing municipality
for purposes of a quorum at a board meeting and (2) may vote for each appointing
municipality. By law, the state has three regional tourism districts (Eastern,
Central, and Western). Regional tourism district boards consist of one
representative from each municipality within the district, appointed by the
municipality’s legislative body (or board of selectmen if the legislative body is a
town meeting).
The act also adds a representative of the Connecticut Tourism Coalition to the
Connecticut Tourism Council, which increases the council’s membership from 29
to 30. The act requires that the coalition’s representative be appointed by the
governor and, as with other gubernatorial appointees, serve a four-year term. By
law, the council is within the Department of Economic and Community
Development (DECD) for administrative purposes only. Among other things, it
must (1) evaluate DECD’s biennial strategic marketing plan for culture and
tourism and (2) annually report to the Commerce Committee on the plan and the
state’s tourism promotion efforts.
Lastly, the act establishes a 15-member task force to study the shortage of
employees in various tourism-related businesses in the state (e.g., shoreline
businesses and marine trades). The task force must report its findings and
recommendations to the Commerce Committee by January 1, 2022. It terminates
on this date or when it submits its report, whichever is later.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except that the provision allowing for joint
appointments to regional tourism boards of directors is effective October 1, 2021.
TASK FORCE
Under the act, the task force consists of 15 members: (1) two appointees each
by the governor, House speaker, Senate president pro tempore, and House and
Senate majority and minority leaders and (2) the DECD commissioner or his
designee. Appointing authorities must make their initial appointments by July 28,
2021, and fill any vacancies. Members appointed by legislative leaders may be
legislators.
The act requires the House speaker and Senate president pro tempore to select
the task force’s chairpersons from among its members. The chairpersons must
schedule the task force’s first meeting, which must be held by August 27, 2021. O L R P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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The Commerce Committee’s administrative staff must serve as the task force’s
administrative staff.
The act requires the task force to create an inventory and timeline of tourism
industry employment opportunities and a mechanism for advertising these
opportunities. It must also review the most efficient, cost-effective, and reliable
transportation available to individuals seeking these opportunities. The task force
must consult with (1) tourism-related businesses about the inventory and
timelines; (2) public and private schools, local and regional chambers of
commerce, and the Connecticut Tourism Council about advertising; and (3) the
Department of Transportation about transportation availability.