1. The governing body of any county of the second, third, or fourth classification may impose, by order or ordinance, a tax on the charges for all sleeping rooms paid by the transient guests of hotels or motels situated in the county or a portion thereof. The tax shall be not more than one cent per occupied room per night, and shall be imposed solely for the purpose of promoting tourism-related activities in the county. The tax authorized in this section shall be in addition to the charge for the sleeping room and all other taxes imposed by law, and shall be stated separately from all other charges and taxes.

2. No such order or ordinance shall become effective unless the governing body of the county submits to the voters of the county at a state general, primary, or special election a proposal to authorize the governing body of the county to impose a tax under this section. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the question, then the tax shall become effective on the first day of the second calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which the election was held. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the question, then the tax shall not become effective unless and until the question is resubmitted under this section to the qualified voters of the county and such question is approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question.

3. All revenue generated by the tax shall be collected by the county collector of revenue, shall be deposited in a special trust fund, and shall be used solely for the designated purposes. If the tax is repealed, all funds remaining in the special trust fund shall continue to be used solely for the designated purposes. Any funds in the special trust fund that are not needed for current expenditures may be invested by the governing body in accordance with applicable laws relating to the investment of other county funds. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.

4. Upon adoption of the tax under this section, there shall be established in each county adopting the tax a “Tourism Commission”, to consist of five members appointed by the governing body of the county. No more than one member of the tourism commission shall be a member of the governing body of the county. Of the initial members appointed, two shall hold office for one year, two shall hold office for two years, and one shall hold office for three years. Members appointed after expiration of the initial terms shall be appointed to a three-year term. Each member may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governing body of the county for the remainder of the unexpired term. The members shall not receive compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in service of the tourism commission.

5. The governing body of any county that has adopted the tax authorized in this section may submit the question of repeal of the tax to the voters on any date available for elections for the county. If a majority of the votes cast on the proposal are in favor of repeal, that repeal shall become effective on December thirty-first of the calendar year in which such repeal was approved. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the repeal, then the tax authorized in this section shall remain effective until the question is resubmitted under this section to the qualified voters of the county, and the repeal is approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question.

6. Whenever the governing body of any county that has adopted the tax authorized in this section receives a petition, signed by a number of registered voters of the county equal to at least two percent of the number of registered voters of the county voting in the last gubernatorial election, calling for an election to repeal the tax imposed under this section, the governing body shall submit to the voters of the county a proposal to repeal the tax. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the repeal, that repeal shall become effective on December thirty-first of the calendar year in which such repeal was approved. If a majority of the votes cast on the question by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the repeal, then the tax shall remain effective until the question is resubmitted under this section to the qualified voters of the county and the repeal is approved by a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question.

7. As used in this section, “transient guests” means a person or persons who occupy a room or rooms in a hotel or motel for thirty-one days or less during any calendar quarter.