(1) The department shall establish a graduated fee schedule for the use of the display space in the convention center in a manner which will enable a wide variety of organizations to use the display space and which takes into account the different types, sizes, and financial ability of such organizations; except that no fees shall be assessed against any counties, municipalities, or state agencies for the use of such display space. The department shall collect only such fees as are necessary to pay for the expenses of the department which are not covered by other moneys available to the department. The revenue from such fees shall be credited to the convention center fund, which fund is hereby created. In addition to fees, the department is authorized to accept any other moneys available to the department for the purpose of utilizing the display space, which other moneys shall include, but shall not be limited to, donations by public or private entities, loans from the state treasury, or other gifts, grants, or loans. Such moneys shall be credited to the convention center fund. All interest derived from the deposit and investment of moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
All moneys in the convention center fund shall be subject to annual appropriation bythe general assembly to the department and shall only be used for the purchase of equipment, the production of programs, the costs of managing, scheduling, and promoting the display space, and any other reasonable and necessary expenses related to the utilization of such display space or any other duties of the department pursuant to this section.
The executive director of the department may contract with any public or privateentity to manage, schedule, or promote the display space.
Source: L. 91: Entire section added, p. 915, § 2, effective June 1. L. 2000: (1) amended, p. 1514, § 6, effective August 2.