Bill Text: HI SCR65 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: HTA; DBEDT; Transfer; Counties; Tourism Tax
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-08 - (S) Referred to TSM/EDT/PGM, WAM. [SCR65 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SCR65-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
65 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
urging the Governor to transfer the functions of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, eliminate distribution of transient accommodations tax REVENUE to the counties, and authorize each county to assess a county tourism TAX surcharge.
WHEREAS, Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, established the Hawaii Tourism Authority as a public instrumentality of the State and placed the agency within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for administrative purposes only; and
WHEREAS, as the Hawaii economy struggles to regain losses sustained during the global economic downturn, greater efficiencies and focused expenditures would be achieved if the functions of the Hawaii Tourism Authority were once again provided by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, as they were prior to Act 156 (1998); and
WHEREAS, prior to the establishment of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism was successful in emphasizing "tourism" in the agency's name to reflect the priority the State placed on the industry; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism was effective in meeting the challenges during previous difficult international economic periods and economic recessions, and demonstrated the ability to respond quickly to problems, the flexibility to create programs that addressed the needs of the industry and market, and the support of the administration and Legislature; and
WHEREAS, the counties have also demonstrated the ability to respond to challenging times, direct tourism-related marketing campaigns, and initiate projects and activities specific to their respective needs and goals; and
WHEREAS, although Act 195, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990, established provisions to distribute a share of the transient accommodations tax to the counties, this body finds that in lieu of the distribution, counties should be authorized to assess a tourism tax surcharge to become more fiscally self-sufficient to meet their needs; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Governor is urged to transfer the functions of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is also urged to eliminate distribution of transient accommodations tax revenue to the counties and authorize each county to assess a county tourism tax surcharge; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2013, on:
(1) The status of the transfer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;
(2) The status of the elimination of the distribution of transient accommodations tax revenue to the counties and the authorization for each county to assess a county tourism tax surcharge; and
(3) Any recommendations for legislation necessary to accomplish paragraphs (1) and (2); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Executive Director of Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Mayors of the Counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui.
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OFFERED BY: |
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HTA; DBEDT; Transfer; Counties; Tourism Tax
