Mike Karickhoff

Establishes a program administered by the Indiana destination development corporation (IDDC) to provide an incentive for tourism development projects in the form of a sales tax rebate available to businesses that are able to satisfy the requirements needed to enter into an agreement with the IDDC with respect to specified tourism development projects. Sets forth the: (1) types of tourism development projects that may qualify for the incentive; (2) approval process to receive the incentive; and (3) required elements of the agreement between the board of the IDDC and a business approved for the incentive. Specifies the manner in which a business may claim the incentive. Requires the board of the IDDC, in negotiating the approved costs in a tourism development project agreement with an approved company, to collaborate with the executive of a county, city, or town to establish a maximum amount of approved costs.  Provides that a person may circulate a petition to create a tourism improvement district (district) within the territory of a county, city, or town. Specifies the contents of the tourism improvement district plan that must be filed with a petition to establish a district. Provides that the legislative body of the county, city, or town may require in the district plan of a tourism development district that the boundaries of the district be drawn to: (1) exclude businesses; or (2) prevent overlap of the district with another area or district in which a special assessment is imposed. Excludes from inclusion within a district: (1) property that receives a homestead standard deduction; (2) property used for single family residential housing; and (3) property used for multi-unit residential housing. Provides that owners of businesses located within a district may be charged a special assessment to fund improvements and other district activities. Provides that, after a hearing on a petition to establish a district, a county, city, or town legislative body may adopt the ordinance establishing the district only if it determines that the petition has been signed by: (1) at least 50% of the owners of businesses within the proposed district; or (2) the owners of businesses within the proposed district that constitute more than 50% of the revenue to be collected from the assessments. Specifies the contents of the ordinance establishing a district and the length of time for which a district may exist. Allows a district to issue bonds. Requires the county, city, or town legislative body to contract with a nonprofit district management association to administer and implement the district's activities and improvements.