HI HB2066

Establishes an Office of Creative Rural or Urban Areas within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, headed by a coordinator appointed by the governor.

Authorizes counties to designate creative rural or urban areas within their boundaries and submit applications for state certification based on criteria including geographic contiguity, cultural/artistic resources, concentration of cultural activity, and promotional/educational aspects of arts and culture.

Allows certification of areas with multiple vacant properties suitable for redevelopment as creative rural or urban areas as an alternative pathway, without requiring specific mixes of for-profit or nonprofit industries.

Prohibits the office from using certification to restrict business operations or residential development within state-certified creative rural or urban areas.

Takes effect on July 1, 2012, with the office required to establish an application review process by January 1, 2013.