The proposed bill establishes a tourism self-supported assessment program in Washington to enhance the state's tourism promotion efforts and strengthen the visitor economy. It creates a ratepayer oversight board composed of representatives from various tourism sectors to manage the assessment funds effectively. The program requires ratification from affected tourism businesses before assessments are collected and includes provisions for opt-out options and sector-specific classifications. Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to define the responsibilities of the Washington tourism marketing authority, which will oversee the assessment program, ensuring that funds are exclusively used for tourism promotion and related administrative costs.

The legislation also introduces new confidentiality provisions for financial information related to the tourism assessment program, amending existing law to exempt certain confidential information from public disclosure. It reenacts and amends RCW 42.56.270 to protect sensitive financial, commercial, and proprietary information. Furthermore, the bill outlines that board members will serve without compensation but can be reimbursed for expenses, mandates quarterly meetings, and prohibits members from serving on boards of organizations that could be considered for contracts under RCW 43.384.050, thereby promoting ethical standards and accountability within the authority.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 43.384.010, 43.384.040, 43.384.030
Substitute bill: 43.384.010, 43.384.040, 43.384.030