Bill Text: HI SB775 | 2021 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To The Transient Accommodations Tax.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-03-11 - Referred to LAT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 22 [SB775 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2021-SB775-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
775 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that tourism has been a critical industry and pillar of Hawaii's modern economy for which the people of Hawaii are fortunate. However, as Hawaii continues to host record numbers of visitors annually, increasing traffic and crowds, conversion of long-term housing units, and wear on public infrastructure, among other impacts, are beginning to take a toll on the quality of life for local residents.
The legislature further finds that in 2019, the islands hosted over ten million tourists, but with each visitor spending decreasingly less while here. With numbers of tourists expected to continue growing annually as Hawaii recovers from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, capturing additional dollars from tourism can pay for public services, infrastructure, and other needs that local taxpayers must currently pay for. Such a market-based mechanism to capture additional visitor dollars as tourism increases can help both regulate the number of tourists visiting Hawaii as well as reduce costs to local residents.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to reduce the cost burden and negative impact from tourism on local residents by adjusting the transient accommodations tax rate based on the number of tourists visiting Hawaii.
SECTION 2. Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
SECTION 3. Section 237D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
"(e) Notwithstanding the tax rates established in subsections (a)(5) and (c)(3), the tax rates levied, assessed, and collected pursuant to subsections (a) and (c) shall be 10.25 per cent for the period beginning on January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2030; provided that:
(1) The tax revenues
levied, assessed, and collected pursuant to this subsection that are in excess
of the revenues realized from the levy, assessment, and collection of tax at
the 9.25 per cent rate shall be deposited quarterly into the mass transit
special fund established under section 248-2.7; [and]
(2) Effective January 1 of
each calendar year, beginning with calendar year 2022, until December 31, 2030,
if the total number of visitor arrivals in the State, as published
in the preceding year in the State of Hawaii data book pursuant to section
201- , is:
(A) Six
million or less, the baseline tax rate shall be six per cent; or
(B) Seven
million or greater, the tax rate described in subparagraph (A) shall increase or
decrease by one per cent per one million visitors, provided that it shall not fall
below the baseline tax rate of six per cent;
provided that the tax rate shall be applied
at the time of the hotel booking; and
[(2)] (3)
If a court of competent jurisdiction
determines that the amount of county surcharge on state tax revenues deducted
and withheld by the State, pursuant to section 248-2.6, violates statutory or
constitutional law and, as a result, awards moneys to a county with a
population greater than five hundred thousand, then an amount equal to the
monetary award shall be deducted and withheld from the tax revenues deposited
under paragraph (1) into the mass transit special fund, and those funds shall
be a general fund realization of the State.
The remaining tax revenues levied, assessed, and collected at the 9.25 per cent tax rate pursuant to subsections (a) and (c) shall be distributed in accordance with section 237D‑6.5(b)."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Transient Accommodations Tax; DBEDT; Hawaii Tourism Authority; State Data Book; Rate Adjustment; Visitor Arrivals
Description:
Provides for a mechanism to adjust the transient accommodations tax rate based on visitor arrivals for a calendar year. Requires the Hawaii tourism authority and the department of business, economic development, and tourism to determine and the latter to publish visitor arrivals annually. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
