The proposed bill establishes a tourism self-supported assessment program in Washington to fund statewide tourism promotion, highlighting the significance of a strong visitor economy for the state's prosperity. It creates a ratepayer oversight board composed of representatives from various tourism sectors to manage the assessment funds effectively. The program requires approval from affected tourism businesses before assessments are collected and includes options for businesses to opt out, as well as sector-specific classifications. The bill also introduces new definitions and responsibilities for the Washington tourism marketing authority, which will oversee the program, ensuring that funds are exclusively used for tourism promotion and maintaining confidentiality of financial information.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to include new provisions for the confidentiality of financial and proprietary information related to the tourism assessment program, specifically exempting certain information from public disclosure. It also outlines the governance structure of the oversight board, stating that members will serve without compensation but can be reimbursed for expenses. The board is required to meet at least quarterly and is prohibited from having members who serve on boards of organizations that could be considered for contracts under specific existing laws. These changes aim to enhance the operational integrity of the authority while protecting sensitive information related to tourism funding.

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