A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to increase the authorization for sampson county to levy an occupancy tax.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  S.L. 2007‑63 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 1.  Occupancy tax. – (a) Authorization and Scope. – The Board of Commissioners of Sampson County may levy a room occupancy tax of up to three percent (3%) of the gross receipts derived from the rental of any room, lodging, or accommodation furnished by a hotel, motel, inn, tourist camp, or similar place within the county that is subject to sales tax imposed by the State under G.S. 105‑164.4(a)(3). This tax is in addition to any State or local sales tax. This tax does not apply to accommodations furnished by nonprofit charitable, educational, or religious organizations when furnished in furtherance of their nonprofit purpose.
"SECTION 1.(a1)  Authorization of Additional Tax. – In addition to the tax authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the Board of Commissioners of Sampson County may levy an additional room occupancy tax of up to three percent (3%) of the gross receipts derived from the rental of accommodations taxable under subsection (a) of this section. Sampson County may not levy a tax under this subsection unless it also levies the tax authorized under subsection (a) of this section.
"SECTION 1.(b)  Administration. – A tax levied under this section shall be levied, administered, collected, and repealed as provided in G.S. 153A‑155. The penalties provided in G.S. 153A‑155 apply to a tax levied under this section.
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"SECTION 2.  Tourism Development Authority. – (a) Appointment and Membership. – When the Board of Commissioners adopts a resolution levying a room occupancy tax under subsection (a) of Section 1 of this act, it shall also adopt a resolution creating the Sampson County Tourism Development Authority, which shall be a public authority under the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act. The resolution shall provide for the membership of the Authority, including the members' terms of office, and for the filling of vacancies on the Authority. At least one‑third of the members shall be individuals who are affiliated with businesses that collect the tax in the county, and at least one‑half of the members shall be individuals who are currently active in the promotion of travel and tourism in the county. The Board of Commissioners shall designate one member of the Authority as chair and shall determine the compensation, if any, to be paid to members of the Authority.
The Authority shall meet at the call of the chair and shall adopt rules of procedure to govern its meetings. The Finance Officer for Sampson County shall be the ex officio finance officer of the Authority.
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SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.