Governor Perry Orders Amends His Sept 12th Proclamation of State and Local Occupancy Taxes

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

I, RICK PERRY, Governor of the State of Texas, do hereby amend my September 12, 2008, Proclamation, which suspended the collection of all state and local hotel occupancy taxes.

WHEREAS, I did issue an Emergency Disaster Proclamation on September 8, 2008, as Hurricane Ike posed a threat of imminent disaster along the Texas Coast and in specified Texas counties;

WHEREAS, extensive damage in Texas as a result of Hurricane Ike has caused widespread power outages; and

WHEREAS, the expeditious restoration of electrical services is crucial for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Texas, and for the preservation of life and property in the recovery efforts from the devastating effects of Hurricane Ike; and

WHEREAS, Hurricane Ike struck the State of Texas on September 13, 2008, causing substantial destruction in South and East Texas; and

WHEREAS, Hurricane Ike continues to create a temporary housing emergency in the State of Texas.

THEREFORE, in accordance with the Emergency Disaster Proclamation and with the authority vested in me by Section 418.020 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby suspend the collection of all state and local hotel occupancy taxes under Chapters 156, 351 and 352 of the Texas Tax Code, Chapters 334, 335 and 383 of the Local Government Code, as well as any other state law authority that authorizes a local hotel occupancy tax, from the victims of Hurricane Ike, for a period beginning on September 8, 2008, and ending on October 14, 2008.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 17th day of September, 2008.

RICK PERRY
Governor

Attested by:
ESPERANZA "HOPE" ANDRADE
Secretary of State