Sec. 10-394. Preparation of annual budgets for regional tourism districts. Administrative costs.

(a) On or before June first of each year, each regional tourism district established under section 10-397 shall prepare a proposed budget for the next succeeding fiscal year beginning July first to carry out its statutory duties. After approval by said tourism district's board of directors, and no later than June first of each year, the tourism district shall submit the proposed budget to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for review, comments and recommendations by the department concerning the proposed expenditures. On and after December 31, 2011, and annually thereafter, the Department of Economic and Community Development shall review, in consultation with the tourism district, the proposed budget no later than June thirtieth, and approve or disapprove the budget. If the department disapproves any annual budget, the department shall adopt an interim budget and such interim budget shall take effect at the commencement of the fiscal year and shall remain in effect until the tourism district submits and the department approves a modified budget. The tourism district shall, on or before March 15, 2012, and annually thereafter, submit a copy of the budget to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations, finance, revenue and bonding and commerce and the Office of Policy and Management, including an explanation detailing the proposed expenditures for the tourism district for the succeeding fiscal year. No funds shall be expended on or after July 1, 2011, by the tourism district without prior approval of the budget or adoption of an interim budget by the Department of Economic and Community Development.

(b) On and after December 31, 2010, each regional tourism district shall ensure that no more than twenty per cent of the total annual grant amount received by the district is used for administrative costs. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall develop guidelines concerning administrative costs for tourism districts.

(June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 212; P.A. 04-205, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 30; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7, S. 51; P.A. 11-48, S. 100.)

History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-205, effective June 3, 2004, and May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, effective May 12, 2004, both replaced Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film with Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-7 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “On and after December 31, 2010, and annually thereafter” re requirement for commission to review budget, changing date for each district to submit budget to the legislature from September 15 to March 15 and adding “on or after December 31, 2010,” re requirement for expending funds, and amended Subsec. (b) to add “on and after December 31, 2010,” and change “received by it pursuant to section 10-398” to “received by the district”, effective January 1, 2010; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (a) by changing “executive director of the Commission on Culture and Tourism” to “Commissioner of Economic and Community Development” and “commission” to “department”, changing date for review of proposed budgets from on and after December 31, 2010, to on and after December 31, 2011, changing date for submitting copy of budget from on or before March 15, 2011, to on or before March 15, 2012, changing date after which no funds shall be expended from on or after December 31, 2010, to on or after July 1, 2011, and changing “Commission on Culture and Tourism” to “Department of Economic and Community Development” and amended Subsec. (b) by changing “executive director, with the approval of the commissioners” to “Commissioner of Economic and Community Development”, effective July 1, 2011.