Bill Text: HI HB2259 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 2259 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Economic Leakage; Tourism; Industries; Report; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-03-21 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [HB2259 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2259-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2259
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ECONOMIC LEAKAGE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State's economy is heavily dependent on the tourism industry. While there have been a variety of attempts to diversify Hawaii's economy in industries other than tourism, the tourism industry remains the largest industry in the State. Due to the importance of tourism to the State's economy, the legislature finds that it is crucial for its members to have access to a breadth of information relating to the tourism moneys that enter, and potentially leave, the State.

The legislature further finds that economic leakage occurs when revenue generated by an industry is not retained in the State's economy, but instead, is lost to foreign economies. Currently, the amount of the State's economic leakage in the tourism industry is unknown. Certain foods, souvenirs, jewelry, and other products imported to Hawaii for the purpose of supporting the tourism industry are notable sources of economic leakage in the State. However, some economic leakage is unavoidable as certain products cannot be sourced locally. Additionally, not all economic leakage is detrimental to the State's economy as certain leakage in one industry may prompt increased spending in other industries. Information identifying linkages between the State's economic leakage in the tourism industry and local non-tourism industries can help policy makers develop strategies to strengthen and diversify the State's economy.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of business, economic development, and tourism to prepare a report that examines linkages between the State's tourism industry and other local industries of the State for the purpose of reducing economic leakage and improving the State's economic input-output model.

SECTION 2. The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall prepare a report examining linkages between the State's tourism industry and other local industries of the State for the purpose of reducing economic leakage and improving the State's economic input-output model.

SECTION 3. The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2017.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the preparation of a report on the linkages between the State's tourism industry and other local industries of the State for the purpose of reducing economic leakage and improving the State's economic input-output model.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

Report Title:

Economic Leakage; Tourism; Industries; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Requires DBEDT to prepare a report examining the linkages between the State's tourism industry and other local industries of the State for the purpose of reducing economic leakage and improving the State's economic input-output model. Makes an appropriation. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.