Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 37
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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 6-9-2.
Synopsis: Oversight of convention and visitor bureau. Requires county
council review and approval of the Lake County convention and visitor
bureau annual budget.
Effective: July 1, 2024.
Niemeyer, Dernulc
January 8, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government.
2024 IN 37—LS 6009/DI 120 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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SENATE BILL No. 37
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
taxation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 6-9-2-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.190-2014,
2 SECTION 27, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2024]: Sec. 4. (a) The bureau may:
4 (1) accept and use gifts, grants, and contributions from any public
5 or private source, under terms and conditions that the bureau
6 considers necessary and desirable;
7 (2) sue and be sued;
8 (3) enter into contracts and agreements;
9 (4) make rules necessary for the conduct of its business and the
10 accomplishment of its purposes;
11 (5) receive and approve, alter, or reject requests and proposals for
12 funding by corporations qualified under subdivision (6);
13 (6) after its approval of a proposal, transfer money from any fund
14 established by the bureau, the promotion fund, or the alternate
15 revenue fund to any Indiana nonprofit corporation to promote and
16 encourage conventions, trade shows, visitors, or special events in
17 the county;
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1 (7) require financial or other reports from any corporation that
2 receives funds under this chapter;
3 (8) enter into leases under IC 36-1-10 for the construction,
4 acquisition, and equipping of a visitor center; and
5 (9) exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property to
6 promote and encourage conventions, trade shows, special events,
7 recreation, and visitors within the county.
8 (b) All expenses of the bureau shall be paid from funds established
9 by the bureau. Before December 20 of each year, the bureau shall
10 prepare a budget for expenditures during the following year, taking into
11 consideration the recommendations made by a corporation qualified
12 under subsection (a)(6) and submit the budget to the county council
13 for its review and approval. An expenditure may not be made
14 under this chapter unless it is in accordance with an appropriation
15 made by the county council in the manner provided by law. A
16 budget prepared by the bureau and approved by the county council
17 under this section must be:
18 (1) submitted to the department of local government finance;
19 (2) published on the department's interactive and searchable
20 Internet web site website containing local government
21 information (the Indiana gateway for governmental units); and
22 (3) placed on file with the county auditor.
23 (c) All money in the bureau's funds shall be deposited, held,
24 secured, invested, and paid in accordance with statutes relating to the
25 handling of public funds. The handling and expenditure of money in
26 the bureau's funds are subject to audit and supervision by the state
27 board of accounts.
28 SECTION 2. IC 6-9-2-4.3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.204-2016,
29 SECTION 28, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
30 JULY 1, 2024]: Sec. 4.3. (a) The Lake County convention and visitor
31 bureau shall establish a convention, tourism, and visitor promotion
32 alternate revenue fund (referred to in this chapter as the "alternate
33 revenue fund"). The bureau may deposit in the alternate revenue fund
34 all money received by the bureau after June 30, 2005, that is not
35 required to be deposited in the promotion fund under section 2 of this
36 chapter or a fund established by the bureau, including appropriations,
37 gifts, grants, membership dues, and contributions from any public or
38 private source.
39 (b) The bureau may without appropriation by the county council,
40 expend money from the alternate revenue fund to promote and
41 encourage conventions, trade shows, visitors, special events, sporting
42 events, and exhibitions in the county. Money may be paid from the
2024 IN 37—LS 6009/DI 120 3
1 alternate revenue fund by claim in the same manner as municipalities
2 may pay claims under IC 5-11-10-1.6.
3 (c) All money in the alternate revenue fund shall be deposited, held,
4 secured, invested, and paid in accordance with statutes relating to the
5 handling of public funds. The handling and expenditure of money in
6 the alternate revenue fund is subject to audit and supervision by the
7 state board of accounts.
8 (d) Money derived from the taxes imposed under IC 4-33-13 may
9 not be transferred to the alternate revenue fund.
2024 IN 37—LS 6009/DI 120