(a) The commission shall annually prepare, or cause to be prepared, a written marketing plan. In developing the plan, the commission shall utilize, as appropriate, the advice and recommendations of the industry marketing advisory committee or committees established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13995.47. The commission may amend the plan at any commission meeting. All expenditures by the commission shall be consistent with the marketing plan.

(b) The plan shall promote travel to and within California, and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) An evaluation of the previous year’s budget and activities.

(2) Review of California tourism trends, conditions, and opportunities.

(3) Target audiences for tourism marketing expenditures.

(4) Marketing strategies, objectives, and targets.

(5) Budget for the current year.

(c) Before final adoption of the plan, the commission shall provide each known destination marketing organization in California notice of the availability of the proposed marketing plan and suitable opportunity, which may include public meetings, to review the plan and to comment upon it. The commission shall take into consideration any recommendations submitted by the destination marketing organizations, except that the final determination as to the nature, extent, and substance of the plan shall in all respects rest solely within the ultimate discretion of the commission, except as provided in subdivision (d).

(d) The final adoption of the plan shall be subject to the review and approval of the director. However, any decision of the director related to the plan may be overridden by a vote of three-fifths or more of the commissioners then in office.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 261. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)