§4574.5. Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

            A. The Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau shall be composed of nine members appointed as follows:

            (1) One member appointed by the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce.

            (2) One member appointed by the CENLA chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

            (3) Two members appointed by the Alexandria Hotel-Motel Association.

            (4) Two members appointed by the governing authority of Rapides Parish.

            (5) One member appointed by the Central Louisiana Attractions Associations.

            (6) One member appointed by the mayor of Alexandria.

            (7) One member appointed by the mayor of Pineville.

            B. The members of the bureau shall serve for terms of one year each or until their successors take office.

            C. The bureau shall be authorized and responsible for executing and implementing the provisions of R.S. 33:4574, 4574.1, 4574.2, and 4574.3. The bureau shall make an annual report of matters affecting its activities and responsibilities.

            D.(1) In addition to the authority and responsibilities provided for in Subsection C of this Section, the bureau may levy and collect the occupancy tax provided for in this Section in the manner and according to the procedures authorized by R.S. 33:4574.1.1, except that the tax shall not include amounts charged for overnight camping facilities. However, the rate of tax authorized for the bureau by such Section shall be reduced by one percent for each one percent of occupancy tax levied as provided for in R.S. 33:4574.7 and 4574.8.

            (2) The net proceeds of the tax, after deduction of reasonable collection expenses, shall be used for the same purposes, and in the same priorities as is provided for in R.S. 33:4574.7(C) and (J) and, in the case of taxes levied and collected on the paid occupancy of hotel rooms located within the downtown area in the city of Alexandria as designated by the city council, R.S. 33:4574.8(B).

            E.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the bureau may use revenues of the bureau derived from hotel/motel occupancy taxes dedicated pursuant to R.S. 33:4574.1.1 and sales and use taxes dedicated pursuant to R.S. 47:302.30 and 322.32 for the additional purpose of constructing, acquiring, improving, operating, and maintaining capital facilities and improvements, including a visitors center.

            (2) Nothing in this Subsection shall be construed to authorize the bureau to use for this purpose any revenues that are not revenues of the bureau as otherwise provided by law.

            Acts 1984, No. 955, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1984; Acts 1991, No. 628, §1; Acts 1995, No. 47, §1, eff. June 8, 1995; Acts 2011, No. 270, §1, eff. June 28, 2011; Acts 2021, No. 47, §1.