Session of 2023
HOUSE BILL No. 2344
By Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
2-7
AN ACT concerning economic development; relating to tourism;
expanding the membership of the council on travel and tourism and
updating the house committee assignment required for house members;
modifying the department of commerce's matching grant program for
the promotion of tourism by reducing the required allocation of funds
to public and nonprofit entities and removing the restriction on the
percentage of funds granted to a single entity; replacing related
references to wildlife, parks and tourism with references to the
secretary or the department of commerce; amending K.S.A. 32-1410
and 32-1420 and repealing the existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 32-1410 is hereby amended to read as follows: 32-
1410. (a) (1) There is hereby established the council on travel and tourism.
The council shall consist of 17 20 voting members as follows:
(1)(A) The chairperson of the standing senate committee on
commerce of the senate, or a member of the senate appointed by the
president of the senate;
(2)(B) the vice-chairperson vice chairperson of the standing senate
committee on commerce of the senate, or a member of the senate
appointed by the president of the senate;
(3)(C) the ranking minority member of the standing senate committee
on commerce of the senate, or a member of the senate appointed by the
minority leader of the senate;
(4)(D) the chairperson of the standing house of representatives
committee on tourism and parks of the house of representatives commerce,
labor and economic development, or its successor committee, or a member
of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(5)(E) the vice-chairperson vice chairperson of the standing house of
representatives committee on tourism and parks of the house of
representatives commerce, labor and economic development, or its
successor committee, or a member of the house of representatives
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(6)(F) the ranking minority member of the standing house of
representatives committee on tourism and parks of the house of
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representatives commerce, labor and economic development, or its
successor committee, or a member of the house of representatives
appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and
(7)(G) elevenfourteen members appointed by the governor. Of the 11
14 members appointed by the governor, one shall six shall be appointed to
represent the general public and eight shall be appointed to represent the
organizations specified in this subparagraph, respectively. The
appointment of a representative for an organization shall be made from a
list of three nominations made submitted by the organization, as follows:
(i) The travel industry association of Kansas, one shall be an
individual engaged in the lodging industry and appointed from a list of
three nominations made by;
(ii) the Kansas restaurant and hospitality association, one shall be an
individual engaged in the restaurant industry and appointed from a list of
three nominations made by for a representative whose nominees shall be
individuals engaged in the lodging industry;
(iii) the Kansas restaurant and hospitality association, one shall be
appointed from a list of three nominations made by for a second
representative whose nominees shall be individuals engaged in the
restaurant industry;
(iv) the petroleum marketers and convenience store association of
Kansas, one shall be appointed from a list of three nominations by;
(v) the Kansas sport hunting association and six shall be appointed to
represent the general public;
(vi) the national independent venue association, whose nominees
shall be Kansas residents;
(vii) the Kansas museums association; and
(viii) the Kansas sampler foundation.
(2) In addition to the voting members of the council, four members of
the council shall serve ex officio: The secretary of commerce, the secretary
of transportation, the secretary of wildlife, and parks and tourism and the
executive director of the state historical society. Each ex officio member of
the council may designate an officer or employee of the state agency of the
ex officio member to serve on the council in place of the ex officio
member. The ex officio members of the council, or their designees, shall
be nonvoting members of the council and shall provide information and
advice to the council.
(b) Legislator members shall be appointed for terms coinciding with
the terms for which such members are elected. Of the 11 members first
appointed by the governor, six shall be appointed for terms of three years
and five shall be appointed for terms of two years as determined by the
governor. Thereafter, All members appointed by the governor shall be
appointed for terms of three years. All members appointed to fill vacancies
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in the membership of the council and all members appointed to succeed
members appointed to membership on the council shall be appointed in
like manner as that provided for the original appointment of the member
succeeded.
(c) On July 1 of each year the council shall elect a chairperson and
vice-chairperson vice chairperson from among its members. The council
shall meet at least four times each year at the call of the chairperson of the
council. Nine voting members of the council shall constitute a quorum.
(d) Members of the council attending meetings of such council, or
attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by such council,
shall be paid amounts for mileage as provided in subsection (c) of K.S.A.
75-3223(c), and amendments thereto, or a lesser amount as determined by
the Kansas department of wildlife, parks and tourism secretary of
commerce. Amounts paid under this subsection to ex officio members of
the council, or their designees, shall be from appropriations to the state
agencies of which such members are officers or employees upon warrants
of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers
approved by the chief administrative officers of such agencies. Amounts
paid under this subsection to voting members of the council shall be from
moneys available for the payment of such amounts upon warrants of the
director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by
the chairperson of the council.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 32-1420 is hereby amended to read as follows: 32-
1420. (a) There is hereby established a state matching grant program to
provide assistance in the promotion of tourism and development of quality
tourist attractions within the state of Kansas. Grants awarded under this
program shall be limited to not more than 40% of the cost of any proposed
project. Applicants shall not utilize any state moneys to meet the matching
requirements under the provisions of this program. Both public and private
entities shall be eligible to apply for a grant under the provisions of this
act. Not less than 75% 50% of all moneys granted under this program shall
be allocated to public entities or entities exempt from taxation under the
provisions of 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, and
amendments thereto. No more than 20% of moneys granted to public or
nonprofit entities shall be granted to any single such entity. Furthermore,
no more than 20% of moneys granted to private entities shall be granted to
any single such entity. The secretary of wildlife, parks and tourism
commerce shall administer the provisions of this act and the secretary may
adopt rules and regulations establishing criteria for qualification for a
matching grant and such other matters deemed necessary by the secretary
for the administration of this act.
(b) For the purpose of K.S.A. 32-1420 through 32-1422, and
amendments thereto, "tourist attraction" means a site that is of significant
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interest to tourists as a historic, cultural, scientific, educational,
recreational or architecturally unique site, or as a site of natural scenic
beauty or an area naturally suited for outdoor recreation, however, under
no circumstances shall "tourist attraction" mean a race track facility, as
defined in K.S.A. 74-8802, and amendments thereto, or any casino or
other establishment which that operates class three games, as defined in
the 1991 version of 25 U.S.C. § 2703, as in effect on July 1, 1991.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 32-1410 and 32-1420 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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