Sec. 1. (a) This chapter applies to a county having a population of more than forty-eight thousand (48,000) and less than fifty thousand (50,000).

     (b) The county described in subsection (a) is unique because:

(1) governmental entities and nonprofit organizations in the county have successfully undertaken cooperative efforts to promote tourism and economic development; and

(2) several unique tourist attractions are located in the county, including:

(A) the Indiana basketball hall of fame;

(B) the Wilbur Wright birthplace memorial; and

(C) a historic gymnasium.

     (c) The presence of these unique attractions in the county has:

(1) increased the number of visitors to the county;

(2) generated increased sales at restaurants and other retail establishments selling food in the county; and

(3) placed increased demands on all local governments for services needed to support tourism and economic development in the county.

     (d) The use of food and beverage tax revenues arising in part from the presence of the attractions identified in subsection (b)(2) to support tourism and economic development in the county permits governmental units in the county to diversify the revenue sources for which local government improvements and services are funded.

As added by P.L.380-1987(ss), SEC.7. Amended by P.L.12-1992, SEC.52; P.L.158-2005, SEC.1; P.L.119-2012, SEC.69; P.L.11-2023, SEC.28.