TO:
MTC Members
FROM:
Dale Amick - MTC Legislative
Consultant
The
travel and tourism industry was a big
winner in the 2007 Missouri legislative
session that concluded May 18.
A
21-billion-dollar budget passed by the
legislature included the largest budget
in the history of the Division of
Tourism. The legislature approved 20.6
million dollars for the agency, the
amount recommended by Gov. Matt Blunt
and over two million dollars higher than
the current Division budget.
The
legislature also approved a sunset
extension from 2010 to 2015 for the
tourism supplemental fund, the base
mechanism through which the Division is
funded.
And the
legislature adopted changes in the
school opening law that should help
tourism and travel in Missouri. Under
the new legislation, school cannot open
sooner than 10 days prior to Labor Day.
However, a school board can open school
ten days prior to Labor Day if it holds
a public meeting on a proposed earlier
start date, then a majority of the board
votes for that new date at the public
meeting.
The bill
goes into effect on August 28, but will
actually impact school scheduling until
the 2008-09 school year, since most
schools will have already begun when the
bills takes effect. It will be up to
local school district patrons to
convince their school boards to not
waive the 10-day restriction.
The
legislature approved changes in how new
guest taxes for tourism promotion can be
implemented. The proposed new law would
allow second, third and fourth class
counties to impose tourism taxes by a
vote of residents, but no more prior
authorization would be needed from the
legislature for each individual tax.
The
legislature also passed a major economic
development bill that includes up to
10.5 million dollars annually in tax
credits for movie film production in
Missouri. In addition, the bill allows
for a sales tax exemption for aviation
fuel used in transoceanic flights
directly to Missouri. The Division of
Tourism believes the sales tax exemption
is a major first step in attracting an
international direct flight into
Missouri.
The price
tag of the economic development bill is
well over 100 million dollars annually,
leaving the possibility the governor may
veto it.
Missouri
Travel Council successfully lobbied to
remove language from a bill that would
have permitted cities with lodging taxes
to divert a portion of those taxes to be
used for non-tourism purposes.
In the
closing days of the session, the
legislature failed to pass changes in
overtime rules on minimum wage passed by
voters last November. The overtime
changes would have allowed for reduced
base pay for certain service workers and
commission employees.
Overall,
the 2007 legislative session was one of
the most successful sessions for
Missouri tourism. To view a complete
final legislative status report, visit
the Missouri Travel Council website at
"www.missouritravel.com".
Dale
Amick
Legislative Consultant
Missouri Travel Council
