HCS SCS SB 596 -- TOURISM TAX

SPONSOR: Steelman (Overschmidt)

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Affairs by a vote of 15 to 1.

This substitute authorizes New Madrid County and Stoddard County and the cities of Bloomfield, Caruthersville, St. James, and any fourth class city in New Madrid County to enact tourism taxes of between 2% and 5% to be added to the cost of sleeping rooms paid by transient guests of hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, campgrounds, and docking facilities.

The substitute also extends individual liability for the collection of taxes to include tourism taxes.

The substitute contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE: Not available at time of printing.

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that certain cities are in need of funds to promote tourism in their area. This legislation will help these cities and the general area will also benefit.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Steelman; and City of St. James.

OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst