(a) There is created hereby a State Bureau of Tourism and Travel, hereinafter referred to as the bureau, composed of a division of records and reports and such other divisions as the director determines to be necessary.

(b) The bureau shall, with the advice and assistance of the advisory board provided for in Section 41-7-3, have exclusive power and authority to plan and conduct all state programs of information and publicity designed to attract tourists to the State of Alabama. It shall be the duty of the principal administrator of each department, board, commission, institution, agency and office, upon request, to assist the Director of Publicity in preparing news items of general interest relating to tourism.

The bureau shall be in charge of a Director of Publicity. The director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Governor shall fix his compensation in accordance with the provisions of Section 36-6-6. The director shall appoint division and unit heads and such assistants and employees as may be necessary to the efficient operation of the bureau. All employees of the bureau shall be subject to the provisions of the Merit System Act. It is further provided, however, that all persons employed by the bureau for positions in state welcoming centers as of June 22, 1979, shall retain their employment positions with the bureau. All such persons so retained by the bureau shall immediately receive all benefits and privileges of the state Merit System law in the same manner and to the same extent as other Merit System employees of the state. All persons employed by the bureau after June 22, 1979, shall be employed subject to the provisions of the state Merit System law and such other state and federal laws, including state and federal court requirements and mandates, as may be applicable. It is further provided that any person, who is now serving as a Capitol hostess, and has been so employed for a period of 12 months immediately preceding June 22, 1979, without Merit System status, shall become an employee of the bureau with automatic classification under the state Merit System as a welcome center worker. The duties of such person shall include assignment to the Capitol building as a hostess.

(a) There is established the Advisory Board to the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel to advise and assist the director. The board shall be composed of 21 members who shall be appointed as follows:

(1) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor by the Alabama Travel Council, or its successor organization.

(2) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor by the Alabama Hospitality Association, or its successor organization.

(3) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor by the Alabama Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, or its successor organization.

(4) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor from the Alabama Restaurant Association, or its successor organization.

(5) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System who shall be representatives of the private sector rural tourism industry.

(6) Two members who shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of three persons for each board position which shall be submitted to the Governor from the Economic Development Association of Alabama, or its successor organization.

(7) Three members appointed by the Governor who are not current full-time public officials or public employees, but who are representatives of the private sector of the tourism industry in Alabama.

(8) The Director of the Alabama State Parks who shall serve as an ex officio member.

(9) The Director of the Alabama Historical Commission who shall serve as an ex officio member.

(10) The Director of the Alabama State Council on the Arts who shall serve as an ex officio member.

(11) The Director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service who shall serve as an ex officio member.

(12) The Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety who shall serve as an ex officio member.

(13) The Director of the Alabama Department of Transportation who shall serve as an ex officio member.

(b) Ex officio members of the advisory board shall be voting members, but shall serve as a member of the board only as long as the ex officio member holds his or her respective office. Each member not serving in an ex officio capacity shall be appointed to a six-year term except for the initial appointments of one of the members for each of the positions designated in subsection (a), subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, which shall be appointed to initial three-year terms. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies which occur other than by expiration of the term shall be filled for the unexpired term only.

(c) The members of the advisory board shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members.

(d) The Director of the Bureau of Tourism and Travel shall be a nonvoting member of the board.

(e) Members of the board shall be residents of the State of Alabama, and to the extent possible, appointments to the advisory board shall be made from all geographic regions of the State of Alabama in order to promote economic diversity from throughout the state. Appointments to the board shall include Black and other minority representation, and to the extent possible, the appointments shall reflect the percentage of minority population of the state. Those members of the board not serving in an ex officio capacity shall be actively employed in the tourism industry throughout the term of their appointment, and if the member ceases to be so employed, that person shall immediately cease to be a member of the board, and the appointing authority shall promptly appoint a new member in the manner consistent with the initial appointment procedure to fill the remainder of the term.

(f) All members shall be notified in writing of the time and place of any regular or special meeting. Any member who misses four consecutive regularly scheduled meetings shall immediately cease to be a member of the advisory board, and the appointing authority shall promptly appoint a new member in the manner consistent with the initial appointment procedure to fill the remainder of the term. Such meeting requirements shall not apply to the director nor to ex officio members.

(g) The Advisory Board to the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel shall meet at least quarterly, and shall perform the following duties:

(1) Serve as a body to advise the director and private persons on the development and implementation of state policies and programs relating to tourism and recreation and to assist in the coordination of these activities.

(2) Adopt bylaws, elect officers, including a chairperson, and establish procedures for its operation.

(3) Advise and review marketing and annual advertising plans developed by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel. The comprehensive marketing plan shall be directed toward the accomplishment of at least the following purposes:

a. Maximizing the return on public and private investment and tourism.

b. Encouraging longer stays by visitors to Alabama.

c. Assisting local entities in attracting conferences and conventions.

d. Reducing season fluctuations in travel and tourist related industries.

e. Encouraging visitors to be destination oriented in this state.

f. Encouraging visitors from foreign countries to visit Alabama.

g. Encouraging Alabamians to vacation in Alabama.

(h) Seek and review the views of all levels of government and the private sector with respect to state programs and policies for the promotion and assistance of tourism.

(i) Cooperate and provide expertise for communities and tourism marketing associations in the development and promotion of their tourism attractions and businesses.

(j) Establish working committees to advise the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel with specific areas of operation including marketing, advertising, regional issues, administration of grant and co-op programs, and product and service development.

The bureau may, with the approval of the Governor, expend any funds appropriated to the bureau for advertising and promotions and for other purposes that support tourism in Alabama; provided, that no part of any appropriation made to the bureau by the Legislature shall be used to purchase any advertising within the State of Alabama; provided further, that the bureau may procure the printing of pamphlets, circulars, maps, leaflets and similar material in the State of Alabama to be circulated by the bureau for tourist advertising and promotion purposes.

The Director of the Bureau of Tourism and Travel may, with the approval of the Governor, enter into contracts and agreements with the organization known as the Southern Travel Directors Council, a regional travel advertising and promotion agency, for the purpose of expanding and extending the state's tourist advertising program. The director may, with the Governor's approval, spend a sum not exceeding $15,000.00 per annum for the support of the council, such expenditures to be made from legislative appropriations for tourist advertising.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and honor those individuals who are accredited or associated by birth to the State of Alabama who, through their conspicuous bravery and gallantry during wartime, and at considerable risk to their own lives, were made recipients of the Medal of Honor. In doing so, these members of our armed forces brought great credit upon themselves, their military units, and the State of Alabama.

(b)(1) There is hereby established an Alabama Medal of Honor Wall to honor recipients of the Medal of Honor at each state welcome center. The Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel shall, in consultation with the American Legion, designate an appropriate area at each welcome center on the border of the state for the placement of the plaques on the wall.

(2) Each recipient of the Medal of Honor who is a native of the state and resided in the state for 10 years or more, whether deceased or living, shall have a plaque or similar designation approved by the Department of Veterans' Affairs placed on the Medal of Honor Wall, which designation shall provide information regarding the Alabamian's particular act of heroism as well as other information relating to the nature of the act.

(3) Verification of residency, dates of the receipt of the award, and other specific information pertaining to each recipient shall be the responsibility of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, which shall certify eligibility for inclusion of individuals to be added to the Medal of Honor Wall.

(4) The cost of each Medal of Honor Wall shall be borne from annual appropriations from the Legislature to the Bureau of Tourism and Travel.