Sec. 2. (a) If a tax is levied under section 6(a) of this chapter, there is created a five (5) member convention and visitor commission (referred to as the “commission” in this chapter), whose purpose it is to promote the development and growth of the convention and visitor industry in the county.

     (b) The county council, by majority vote, shall appoint two (2) members of the commission, one (1) of whom must be engaged in the hotel or motel business in the county and one (1) of whom must be engaged in the profession of education within the county. The two (2) members appointed by the county council may not be members of the same political party. The county commissioners, by majority vote, shall appoint two (2) members of the commission, one (1) of whom must be engaged in the hotel or motel business within the county and one (1) of whom must be representative of business, industry or labor within the county. The two (2) members appointed by the county commissioners may not be members of the same political party. The mayor of the largest city in the county, according to the preceding decennial United States census, shall appoint one (1) member of the commission. The mayor’s appointee must be engaged in the hotel or motel business in the county.

     (c) The initial terms of office of the members of the commission begin on the date a tax is levied under section 6(a) of this chapter. The initial terms of the members appointed by the county commissioners end on December 31 of the year in which the tax is levied, and the initial terms of the members appointed by the county council and by the mayor of the largest city end on December 31 of the immediately following year. All terms of office after the initial terms begin on January 1 and end on December 31. After the initial terms, members of the commission appointed by the county council and by the mayor of the largest city serve two (2) year terms, and members appointed by the county commissioners serve one (1) year terms. A member whose term expires may be reappointed to serve another term. If a vacancy occurs, the commission, by majority vote shall, within thirty (30) days, appoint a qualified person to serve the remainder of the term. If the commission fails to appoint a person within thirty (30) days of the vacancy, the original appointing official or body for that vacant position, by majority vote, shall appoint a qualified person to serve the remainder of the term.

     (d) Members of the commission may not receive a salary. However, commission members shall receive reimbursement for necessary expenses, but only when the necessary expenses are incurred in the performance of their respective duties.

As added by Acts 1980, P.L.65, SEC.1.