§338.10.  Tax authorized; Iberia Parish

A.  The governing authority of Iberia Parish is hereby authorized and empowered to levy and collect a tax upon the occupancy of hotel rooms and overnight camping facilities located within the parish of Iberia.  Said tax shall be two per centum of the rent or fee charged for such occupancy.

B.(1)  The word "hotel" as used in this Section shall mean and include any establishment engaged in the business of furnishing or providing rooms or overnight camping facilities intended or designed for dwelling, lodging, or sleeping purposes to transient guests and shall not encompass any hospital, convalescent or nursing home, sanitarium, or any hotel-like facility operated by or in connection with a hospital or medical clinic providing rooms exclusively for patients and their families.

(2)  The word "person" as used in this Section shall have the same definition as that contained in R.S. 47:301(8).

(3)  The tax shall be paid by the person who exercises or is entitled to occupancy of the hotel room or camping facility and shall be paid at the time the rent or fee for occupancy is paid.  The tax shall not apply to the rent for hotel rooms rented for less than three dollars a day.

(4)  The governing authority of Iberia Parish shall impose the tax by ordinance, and said governing authority shall have the right to provide in such ordinance necessary and appropriate rules and regulations for the imposition, collection, and enforcement of the tax.

C.  The proceeds of any tax authorized and levied in accordance with the provisions of this Section, less a sum not to exceed two percent of such proceeds to be retained by the governing authority for a collection fee, shall be used exclusively for the purposes of industrial inducement and economic development in Iberia Parish, including the cost of advertising, promotion, and publication of information.

D.  The governing authority of Iberia Parish is further authorized to enter into a cooperative endeavor, pursuant to Article VII, Section 14(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana, with the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, in order to carry out the purposes of this Section.  Any agreement concluded pursuant to said endeavor shall be reduced to writing, and the governing authority shall accept such agreement by adoption of an ordinance setting forth its terms.

Acts 1987, No. 521, §1, eff. July 9, 1987; Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 60, §1, eff. Dec. 6, 2005; Redesignated from R.S. 33:2711.9 pursuant to Acts 2011, No. 248, §4.