KTIA Legislative Committee

The KTIA Legislative Committee works to develop programs to heighten legislative awareness of the tourism industry and increase KTIA members' understanding of the legislative process. This committee also works to effect favorable legislation and deter unfavorable legislation for the travel industry and develops the KTIA legislative platform for approval by the Board of Directors.

Legislative Committee members must be willing to meet as needed to collectively address, research, formulate and present legislative issues to the KTIA Board for approval. Members must actively work to disseminate information and help generate action on issues/bills that affect our industry.

GUIDELINES FOR LEGISLATIVE POSITION STATEMENTS

I. Procedure for Kentucky Travel Industry Association Legislative Position Statements

A. Requests for Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA) legislative positions must be submitted to the KTIA  Legislative Committee. Any position statement which the Legislative Committee recommends that the KTIA adopt must be presented to the Board of Directors for approval.
B. Any KTIA position statement endorsing or opposing proposed Legislation must be approved by the Board of Directors.

II. Legislation Affecting the KTIA

A. KTIA should endorse any legislation which furthers its mission and which is recommended by the Legislative Committee: The mission of the KTIA is to unite and promote Kentucky’s tourism industry through legislative and governmental interaction, industry awareness, professional development and communication.
B. KTIA should endorse legislation which would create statutory policies favorable to the tourism industry and which would be applied on a statewide basis.
C. KTIA should not endorse legislation or legal positions which are limited to the facts in a certain community and which do not have statewide application.
D. When proposed legislation is supported by one segment of the tourism industry but pooped by another segment the Legislative Committee must provide an opportunity for both segments to present their positions prior to making any recommendation to the board of directors.

III. Legislation Relating to Taxes

A. KTIA should endorse the appropriate expenditures of transient room and restaurant taxes for promoting convention and tourism activity pursuant to the provisions of KRS 91A.350 (1) or promoting and developing convention and tourism activities and facilities pursuant to the provisions of KRS 941.350 (2) and (3) and oppose any expenditures of transient room taxes which violate the statutory provisions of KRS 91A.350-390.
B. KTIA should oppose any legislation that imposes a tax on any segment of the tourism industry for the purpose of creating revenue that flows into the general fund of the state, county or city.
C. KTIA should support legislation that would impose a tax on any segment of the tourism industry if that segment supports the legislation and the revenues are designated for use in promoting and developing convention and tourist activities and facilities.
D. KTIA should neither support nor oppose any legislation that is greatly divided among its membership. In this case, a poll of the membership shall be conducted once the bill has been filed. The anonymous results will be tallied and distributed to the membership and available to the general public by request. The KTIA Executive Committee shall meet not more than two weeks once the polling is tallied to determine if the proposed legislation should be reconsidered. If the Executive Committee determines to readdress the standing on the legislation, the current position statements that would pertain to the legislation should be upheld.