Kansas 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2344 Comm Sub / Analysis

                    SESSION OF 2023
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2344
As Recommended by House Committee on 
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development
Brief*
HB 2344 would make changes to the membership of the 
Council on Travel and Tourism and a tourism matching grant 
program.
Council on Travel and Tourism
The bill would expand the Council on Travel and Tourism 
from 17 members to 20 members by adding three members 
to be appointed by the Governor representing National 
Independent Venue Association, Kansas Museums 
Association, and Kansas Sampler Foundation.
The appointments would be from a list of three 
individuals submitted by the organizations. The individuals 
submitted by the National Independent Venue Association 
would be required to be Kansas residents.
The bill would also make technical changes to the 
membership by updating the names of standing committees 
of the Legislature.
Tourism Matching Grant Program
The bill would reduce from 75 percent to 50 percent the 
minimum required amount of grants made under the Tourism 
Development and Promotion Matching Grant Program that 
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research 
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental 
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at 
http://www.kslegislature.org would be required to be allocated to public or not-for-profit 
entities and would eliminate requirements that 20 percent of 
granted moneys be granted to individual entities.
The bill would also make conforming amendments 
replacing outdated agency references.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on 
Commerce, Labor and Economic Development at the request 
of a representative of the Department of Commerce.
House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic 
Development
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony 
was provided by representatives of Department of Commerce 
and the Travel Industry Association of Kansas. The 
proponents generally stated the bill would provide valuable 
additional resources to the Council on Travel and Tourism 
and update grant allocations in accordance with interest in 
grants.
The House Committee recommended the bill be placed 
on the Consent Calendar.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of 
the Budget on the bill, the Department of Commerce indicates 
the bill would have no fiscal effect.
State government; Council on Travel and Tourism; membership; Tourism 
Development and Promotion Matching Grant Program
2- 2344