RCW 43.385.020: Tourism assessment program authorized.

(1) The legislature authorizes the authority to establish a tourism assessment program, subject to tourism business sector ratification and review of the director.

(2) No assessments shall be collected until the referendum process in RCW 43.385.040 is completed and approved by the affected tourism business sector.

(3) The authority shall adopt rules as necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of this chapter. The authority shall give substantial weight to the recommendations made under section 3, chapter 189, Laws of 2025, and the design developed under RCW 43.385.040, when developing rules under this chapter.

(4) Rules promulgated by the authority shall not apply to any federally recognized Indian tribe, any business owned or operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe, any tribal-owned enterprise, or any business operating on land owned in fee or in trust by a tribe or tribal member, unless the tribe or tribal member has officially opted to participate in the tourism assessment program under RCW 43.385.040.