1. The Commission may provide grants of money to counties, cities, and local and regional organizations in this State for the development of projects relating to tourism to the extent that:

(a) Money in the Fund for the Promotion of Tourism created by NRS 231.250 is made available for that purpose. The amount of revenue from taxes on the gross receipts from the rental of transient lodging made available for that purpose in any biennium must be determined through the budget process and approved by the Legislature.

(b) Gifts, grants or other money is made available for that purpose.

2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the State Controller shall, upon the request of the Commission, transfer to the State General Fund all money made available for the use of the Commission pursuant to subsection 1. All such money must be accounted for separately in the State General Fund. The State Controller shall not transfer any revenue from taxes on the gross receipts from the rental of transient lodging from the Fund for the Promotion of Tourism to the State General Fund unless the transfer is approved by the Interim Finance Committee.

3. The Commission shall administer the account created pursuant to subsection 2 and may make grants only from that account. Any interest earned on the money in the account must be credited to the account quarterly. The money in the account does not revert to the State General Fund at the end of any fiscal year and must be carried forward to the next fiscal year.

4. The Commission shall:

(a) Develop and administer the Grant Program for the Development of Projects Relating to Tourism;

(b) Establish guidelines for the submission and review of applications to receive money from the Grant Program;

(c) Establish the criteria for eligibility to receive money from the Grant Program; and

(d) Consider and approve or disapprove applications for money from the Grant Program.

5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, as a condition of eligibility for a grant from the Commission pursuant to this section, an applicant must provide an amount of money, at least equal to the amount of the grant, for the same purpose.

6. If an applicant for a grant is from a county whose population is less than 100,000 and the Commission determines that the applicant is financially unable to provide the matching money otherwise required by subsection 5, the Commission may provide a grant with less than equal matching money provided by the applicant.

(Added to NRS by 2001, 2828; A 2011, 2941)