STAND. COM. REP. NO. 670

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 271

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 271, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM EMERGENCY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the Hawaii Tourism Authority to respond to national or global economic crises that adversely affect the tourism industry.

 

     More specifically, this measure includes a national or global economic crisis as a situation that may be declared a tourism emergency.  The measure also requires the governor's express approval before action can be taken by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 

     Your Committee received sixteen written comments on this measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that tourism-related industries are an important part of the State's economy that has been severely affected by the airline crisis early last year and the subsequent economic decline across the country.  Your Committee further finds that including national or global economic crises as a situation that may be declared a tourism emergency will allow the Tourism Emergency Trust Fund to be used for that purpose.  Your Committee also finds that allowing access to these moneys during an economic emergency is an appropriate use of the fund, as it enables the Hawaii Tourism Authority to assist tourism-related industries to promote Hawaii as a travel destination.  With other resort destinations pouring millions of dollars into their marketing campaigns, it is important that this State maintain a presence in the global tourism market.

 

     Your Committee amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, clarifying amendment.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 271, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 271, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

		____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair