§1262.  Welcome center sites; authorization; sale of juried Louisiana native crafts; fees authorized for capital improvements

A.  The following welcome centers are hereby authorized:

(1)  In or near the new State Capitol building.

(2)  In New Orleans, in or near the Vieux Carre'.

(3)  At or near Vinton, along Interstate Highway 10, Eastbound.

(4)  At or near Greenwood, along Interstate Highway 20, Eastbound.

(5)  At or near Mound, along Interstate Highway 20, Westbound.

(6)  At or near Vidalia, along U.S. Highway 84.

(7)  At or near St. Francisville, along U.S. Highway 61.

(8)  At or near Kentwood, along Interstate Highway 55, Southbound.

(9)  At or near Pearl River, along Interstate 10, Westbound, and along Interstate 59, Southbound.

(10)  At or near Alexandria, along Interstate Highway 49.

(11)  Along Interstate Highway 10 in eastern New Orleans.

(12)  Repealed by Acts 2001, No. 1191, §2.

(13)  At or near Butte LaRose, along Interstate Highway 10, in the Atchafalaya Basin.

B.  The office is authorized to operate facilities as welcome centers jointly with a state, parochial, or municipal agency, a local tourist promotion agency, or private nonprofit organization on a cooperative and equitable basis of shared costs and responsibilities of personnel and maintenance.

C.  The office is authorized to act as an outlet, to display, and to offer for sale on a consignment basis at full retail value only juried Louisiana native crafts bearing the hallmark of the quality-control logo.  This function may be executed by the Louisiana State Arts Council, the Louisiana Crafts Council, or a local crafts organization or arts council.

D.(1)  The office is authorized to promulgate and adopt rules to assess private businesses and attractions for the following:

(a)  Audio-visual, computerized, or static promotional opportunities advertising such businesses or attractions to the public at welcome centers.

(b)  The use of lighted picture displays to advertise or offer information on such businesses or attractions to the public at welcome centers.

(2)  Such rules shall not change the procedures established by the office of providing tourism-related businesses and attractions the opportunity to display their brochures or pamphlets free of charge.

(3)  The proceeds of any assessment made pursuant to this Subsection shall be used to fund capital improvements at welcome centers as further provided in R.S. 51:1262.1.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 688, §4; Acts 1986, No. 588, §3; Acts 1993, No. 42, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1151, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1191, §§1 and 2.

{{NOTE:  SEE ACTS 1986, NO. 588, §4.}}