§338.203. Hotel occupancy tax in Jefferson Parish

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in addition to any other tax now or hereafter levied and collected, the Jefferson Parish Council, whether acting as the governing authority of Jefferson Parish or as the governing authority of any special district created for the purposes set forth in Subsection D of this Section, is hereby authorized and empowered to levy and collect a tax upon the paid occupancy of hotel rooms located within Jefferson Parish, both unincorporated areas and incorporated municipalities. The hotel occupancy tax shall be one percent of the rent or fee charged for such occupancy. The word "hotel" as used in this Section shall have the same definition as that contained in R.S. 47:338.201 and 338.202. The hotel occupancy tax shall be paid by the person who exercises or is entitled to occupancy of the hotel room and shall be paid at the time the rent or fee for occupancy is paid. "Person" as used herein shall have the same definition as that contained in R.S. 47:301(8). Fifty percent of the hotel occupancy tax collected within each municipality in Jefferson Parish shall be remitted to the municipality in which it was collected and shall be used for purposes enumerated in Subsection D of this Section to promote and fund programs that enhance visitation and tourism in the municipalities.

B. The governing authority shall impose the hotel occupancy tax by ordinance adopted by the governing authority which shall have the right to provide in the ordinance or by resolution necessary and appropriate rules and regulations for the imposition, collection, and enforcement of the hotel occupancy tax, including but not limited to a provision that the initial collection of the tax shall begin on the first of a month following the adoption of the ordinance levying the tax. Should the council take action as authorized in this Section to collect the hotel occupancy tax, the collection shall begin no earlier than August 1, 2004. The ordinance levying and imposing the hotel occupancy tax shall be approved by a favorable vote of a majority of the members of the governing authority present and voting. The term "ordinance" means an ordinance, act, or other appropriate legislative enactment of the governing authority.

C. The governing authority shall have the right to contract with the state of Louisiana for the collection of the hotel occupancy tax. The tax shall be in addition to all other taxes presently being levied upon the occupancy of hotel rooms in the parish.

D. The net proceeds of the tax after deduction of reasonable collection expenses shall be used to fund tourism promotion in Jefferson Parish and in the municipalities of Jefferson Parish to fund programs and special events relating to tourism, in Jefferson Parish by only a parish-designated body and in the municipalities by a mayor-designated body whose sole purpose is to promote and fund programs that enhance visitation and tourism, such as the programs of the existing Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau and the programs of the Kenner Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Acts 2004, No. 790, §1, eff. July 8, 2004; Redesignated from R.S. 33:2740.18.2 pursuant to Acts 2011, No. 248, §4.