[§201B-9]  Tourism emergency.  (a)  If the board determines that the occurrence of a world conflict, terrorist threat, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other catastrophic event, regardless of when or where it occurs, adversely affects Hawaii's tourism industry by resulting in a substantial interruption in the commerce of the State and adversely affecting the welfare of its people, the board shall submit a request to the governor to declare that a tourism emergency exists.

     (b)  Upon declaration by the governor that a tourism emergency exists pursuant to subsection (a), the authority shall develop and implement measures to respond to the tourism emergency, including providing assistance to tourists during the emergency; provided that any tourism emergency response measure implemented pursuant to this subsection shall not include any provision that would adversely affect the organized labor force in tourism-related industries. [L 2007, c 201, pt of §1]