BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 8.119.101 pertaining to the Tourism Advisory Council

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NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT   NO PUBLIC HEARING CONTEMPLATED

 

TO:  All Concerned Persons

 

1.  On September 10, 2011, the Department of Commerce proposes to amend the above-stated rule.

 

2.  The Department of Commerce will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice.  If you require an accommodation, contact Department of Commerce no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 1, 2011, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need.  Please contact Barbara Sanem, Department of Commerce, Montana Office of Tourism, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200533, Helena, Montana 59620-0533; telephone (406) 841-2769; fax (406) 444-841-2871; TDD (406) 841-2702; or e-mail bsanem@mt.gov.

 

3.  The rule as proposed to be amended provides as follows, new matter underlined, deleted matter interlined:

 

8.119.101  TOURISM ADVISORY COUNCIL  (1)  remains the same.

(2)  The Tourism Advisory Council incorporates by reference the guide entitled "Regulations and Procedures for Regional/CVB Tourism Organizations, February 2009 June 2009, as amended June 2009 2011," setting forth the regulations and procedures pertaining to the distribution of lodging facility use tax revenue.  The guide is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Montana Promotion Division Office of Tourism, Department of Commerce, 301 South Park Avenue, Helena, Montana 59620.  Copies of the guide are available on request.

(3)  Distribution of funds to regional nonprofit tourism corporations and to nonprofit convention and visitors" bureaus is contingent upon compliance with the "Regulations and Procedures for Regional/CVB Tourism Organizations, February 2009 June 2009, as amended June 2009 2011."

 

AUTH:  2-15-1816, MCA

IMP:  2-15-1816, MCA

 

REASON:  It is reasonably necessary to amend this rule because the "Regulations and Procedures for the Regional/CVB Tourism Organizations, June 2009" were amended by the Tourism Advisory Council in June 2011 to include the addition of open meeting policy requirements and RFP requirements.

 

4.  Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed action in writing to:  Barbara Sanem, Department of Commerce, Montana Office of Tourism, 301 South Park Avenue, P.O. Box 200533, Helena, Montana 59620-0533; telephone (406) 841-2769; fax (406) 444-841-2871; TDD (406) 841-2702; or e-mail bsanem@mt.gov, and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., September 8, 2011.

 

5.  If persons who are directly affected by the proposed action wish to express their data, views, or arguments orally or in writing at a public hearing, they must make written request for a hearing and submit this request along with any written comments to Barbara Sanem at the above address no later than 5:00 p.m., September 8, 2011.

 

6.  If the agency receives requests for a public hearing on the proposed action from either 10 percent or 25, whichever is less, of the persons directly affected by the proposed action; from the appropriate administrative rule review committee of the Legislature; from a governmental subdivision or agency; or from an association having not less than 25 members who will be directly affected, a hearing will be held at a later date.  Notice of the hearing will be published in the Montana Administrative Register.  Ten percent of those directly affected has been determined to be 20 persons based on 12 Convention and Visitor Bureaus, six Tourism Regions, and at least 182 potential applicants for grants of accommodation tax funds.

 

7.  The department maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency.  Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request that includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies for which program the person wishes to receive notices.  Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request.  Such written request may be mailed or delivered to the contact person in 4 above or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the department.

 

8.  An electronic copy of this proposal notice is available through the Secretary of State's web site at http://sos.mt.gov/ARM/Register. The Secretary of State strives to make the electronic copy of this notice conform to the official version of the notice, as printed in the Montana Administrative Register, but advises all concerned persons that in the event of a discrepancy between the official printed text of the notice and the electronic version of the notice, only the official printed text will be considered. In addition, although the Secretary of State works to keep its web site accessible at all times, concerned persons should be aware that the web site may be unavailable during some periods, due to system maintenance or technical problems.

 

9.  The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, do not apply.

 

 

/s/  KELLY A. CASILLAS                             /s/  DORE SCHWINDEN    

KELLY A. CASILLAS                                   DORE SCHWINDEN

Rule Reviewer                                               Director

                                                                        Department of Commerce

           

Certified to the Secretary of State August 1, 2011.