SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 59

(By Senators Browning, Klempa, Prezioso, McCabe, Stollings, Wells, Williams and Sypolt)

[Originating in the Committee on Economic Development]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study whether the state should increase funding to the Matching Advertising Partnership Program.

    Whereas, The Matching Advertising Partnership Program (MAPP) was created in 1995 by the Legislature to promote tourism and the image of West Virginia using 3 percent of the net income from video lottery; and

    Whereas, MAPP is a 50 percent reimbursement of tourism promotions made only after all cancelled checks have been submitted to show 100 percent of funds spent; and

    Whereas, During the 2004 legislative session, the Legislature removed $15,000,000 in surplus funding for various projects and reduced the 3 percent income from video lottery to 1.375 percent; and

    Whereas, During the 2006 legislative session, the Legislature required that $4,700,000 be set aside from the MAPP fund every year for the Courtesy Patrol; and

    Whereas, The unintended consequence of these Legislative actions is that the fund is no longer sufficient to provide fifty percent reimbursements to applicants; and

    Whereas, From fiscal year 2000 to fiscal year 2008, tourism spending in West Virginia increased by $2 billion and employed an additional 9,000 people; and

    Whereas, From fiscal year 2000 to fiscal year 2008 local and state tourism tax revenue increased by $294.1 million; and

    Whereas, The eight year return on investment of the state providing 50 percent MAPP funding is 1,776 percent since 2001 or an annual rate of return of 222 percent; and

    Whereas, During the 2010 legislative session, the Legislature authorized $1 million of the unused excess funds set aside for the Courtesy Patrol to be used for additional MAPP funding; and

    Whereas, Increasing the amount of money available for MAPP funding would increase tourism revenues in the state and increase the amount of jobs created by tourism; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study of whether the state should increase funding for the Matching Advertising Partnership Program; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2012, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.