Product Liability Risk Retention Act of 1979

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with amendment, S. Rept. 96-984)

=Title I: Product Liability Risk Retention= - Product Liability Risk Retention Act of 1980 - Defines a "risk retention group" as a corporation or other limited liability association taxable as a corporation or insurance company, formed under the laws of any State, Bermuda, or the Cayman Islands, which meets the following requirements: (1) its primary activity consists of assuming and spreading product liability exposure of its members; and is organized for the primary purpose of conducting such activity; (2) it is chartered as an insurance company; (3) it does not exclude any person from membership for competitive advantage; and (4) its members' principal activity consists of the manufacture, design, importation, distribution, packaging, lease, or sale of a product.

Defines a "purchasing group" as any group of persons having as one of its purposes the purchase of product liability insurance on a group basis.

Exempts a risk retention group from any State law to the extent that such law regulates, directly or indirectly, the operation of a risk retention group. Specifies exceptions to such exemption, including that a State may require such a group to pay taxes which are levied on admitted insurers and surplus lines insurers, comply with unfair claim settlement practices law, or reporting requirements.

Exempts such a group from any State law to the extent that such law: (1) requires or permits a group to participate in any insurance insolvency guaranty association; or (2) requires any insurance policy issued to a group to be countersigned by an insurance agent or broker residing in the State.

Exempts a purchasing group from any State law to the extent that such law: (1) prohibits the establishment of a purchasing group; (2) prohibits an insurer from providing to such a group advantage based on their loss and expense experience; (3) imposes certain other requirements on purchasing groups.

Exempts risk retention groups from the Federal securities laws and State blue sky laws.

=Title II: National Tourism Policy= - National Tourism Policy Act - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to establish a cooperative effort between the Federal Government and State and local governments and other concerned public and private organizations to implement a national tourism policy.

Establishes the National Tourism Policy Council as an independent entity within the executive branch to be the principal coordinating body for the policies, programs, and issues relating to tourism, recreation, or national heritage resources involving Federal departments, agencies, or other entities.

Establishes an Executive Committee within the Council comprised of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, and the Secretaries of specified Federal departments.

Establishes the following policy committees within the Council: (1) the Transportation of Facilitation Policy Committee; (2) the Economic Development Policy Committee; (3) the Energy and Natural Resources Policy Committee; and (4) the Health, Education, and Cultural Policy Committee. Specifies the membership of each such committee from various Federal agencies.

Directs each Policy Committee to review and comment on Federal agency program and planning documents that will have a substantial effect on tourism, recreation and heritage resource preservation which are appropriate to the Committee's functional responsibilities and agency representation.

Directs the National Tourism Policy Council to submit annual reports to the President for transmittal to the Congress regarding: (1) the activities of the Council and its Policy Committees; (2) the results of Council efforts to coordinate the policies and programs of member agencies that have a significant effect on tourism, recreation, and national heritage preservation, resolve interagency conflicts, and develop areas of cooperative program activity; (3) an analysis of problems referred to the Council along with a detailed statement of actions taken or anticipated to be taken to resolve such problems; and (4) such recommendations as the Council deems appropriate.

Authorizes appropriations of $500,000 for fiscal year 1982 to carry out the provisions of this title.

Establishes the United States Travel and Tourism Development Corporation as a nonprofit corporation which shall not be an agency or establishment of the United States.

Stipulates that the primary purpose of the Corporation shall be to develop and administer a comprehensive tourism program designed to stimulate and encourage travel to the United States by residents of other countries. Prohibits the Corporation's activities from competing with the activities of any State, city, or private agency.

Requires the Corporation to submit annual reports to the President for transmittal to the Congress detailing the Corporation's operations, activities, financial condition, and accomplishments during the previous year. Requires annual audits of the Corporation to be included in such report.

Directs the Corporation to undertake a comprehensive study of the funding levels required to effectively implement a comprehensive tourism development program and all alternative funding measures (other than direct Treasury funding) and to report its findings to the President and the Congress within six months.

Authorizes appropriations of up to $9,500,000 to the Corporation for fiscal year 1982.

Transfers the functions, funds, powers, and liabilities of the United States Travel Service to the Corporation.

Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 1982 for programs to stimulate travel to the United States.

Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to provide financial assistance to a region of not less than two States to implement a regional tourism promotional and marketing program.

Prohibits the Secretary from reducing the number of employees or the funding of U.S. Travel Service offices in foreign countries below fiscal year 1979 levels.