REPORT TITLE:
Hawaii Tourism Authority


DESCRIPTION:
Allows the Authority to support, through grants and project
funding, programs of DLNR which protect, preserve, and promote
Hawaii's natural resources.

 
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THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  Findings and purpose.  The legislature
 
 2 recognizes the connection with the health of Hawaii's environment
 
 3 and the vitality of its economy, especially its tourism sector.
 
 4 Over 7,000,000 tourists visit our islands each year to experience
 
 5 beautiful beaches, fish and snorkel in clean waters, and hike on
 
 6 safe trails in snake-free rain forests. Immediate steps are
 
 7 needed to assure that long-term funding mechanisms are in place
 
 8 so that Hawaii's environment will be protected in the future and
 
 9 not unduly impacted by Hawaii's tourism sector.  Despite the
 
10 value our natural resources have to our economy and quality of
 
11 life, an alarmingly small amount is invested each year to protect
 
12 our natural capital base.  For example, currently the department
 
13 of land and natural resources is allotted only one per cent of
 
14 the State's budget to protect and manage all land and natural
 
15 resources in the State-the very foundation of our island
 
16 community.  As the number of visitors to Hawaii increases; and
 
17 the eco-tourism and ocean recreation industries multiply,
 
18 increased public demand for recreational opportunities and access
 
19 to natural areas will skyrocket, so will user conflicts.  This
 

 
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 1 calls for more responsive and innovative natural resource
 
 2 management programs, if both economic and preservation goals are
 
 3 to be achieved. Investments must be made to enhance Hawaii's
 
 4 natural resource base so it can support existing and increasing
 
 5 demand for use.
 
 6      SECTION 2.  Section 201B-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 7 amended to read as follows:
 
 8      "[[]201B-3[]]  Powers.  Except as otherwise limited by this
 
 9 chapter, the board may:
 
10      (1)  Sue and be sued;
 
11      (2)  Have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;
 
12      (3)  Make and execute contracts and all other instruments
 
13           necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers
 
14           and functions under this chapter, provided that the
 
15           authority may enter into contracts and agreements for a
 
16           period of up to five years;
 
17      (4)  Make and alter bylaws for its organization and internal
 
18           management;
 
19      (5)  Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 with respect
 
20           to its projects, operations, properties, and
 
21           facilities;
 
22      (6)  Through its executive director represent the authority
 
23           in communications with the governor and with the
 

 
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 1           legislature;
 
 2      (7)  Through its executive director appoint officers,
 
 3           agents, and employees, prescribe their duties and
 
 4           qualifications, and fix their salaries, without regard
 
 5           to chapters 76, 77, and 78;
 
 6      (8)  Through its executive director purchase supplies,
 
 7           equipment, or furniture;
 
 8      (9)  Through its executive director allocate the space or
 
 9           spaces which are to be occupied by the authority and
 
10           appropriate staff;
 
11     (10)  Engage the services of qualified persons to implement
 
12           the State's tourism marketing plan or portions thereof
 
13           as determined by the board;
 
14     (11)  Engage the services of consultants on a contractual
 
15           basis for rendering professional and technical
 
16           assistance and advice;
 
17     (12)  Procure insurance against any loss in connection with
 
18           its property and other assets and operations in such
 
19           amounts from such insurers as it deems desirable;
 
20     (13)  Contract for, and accept gifts or grants in any form
 
21           from any public agency or any other source;
 
22     (14)  Create a vision and develop a long range plan for
 
23           tourism in Hawaii, including product development,
 

 
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 1           infrastructure, and diversification issues;
 
 2     (15)  Develop, coordinate, and implement state policies and
 
 3           directions for tourism and related activities taking
 
 4           into account the economic, social, and physical impacts
 
 5           of tourism on the State;
 
 6     (16)  Develop and implement the state tourism strategic
 
 7           marketing plan, which shall be updated every three
 
 8           years, to promote and market the State as a desirable
 
 9           visitor destination;
 
10     (17)  Have a permanent, strong focus on marketing and
 
11           promotion;
 
12     (18)  Conduct market development-related research as
 
13           necessary;
 
14     (19)  Coordinate all agencies and advise the private sector
 
15           in the development of tourism-related activities and
 
16           resources;
 
17     (20)  Work to eliminate or reduce barriers to travel in order
 
18           to provide a positive and competitive business
 
19           environment, including coordinating with the department
 
20           of transportation on issues affecting airlines and air
 
21           route development;
 
22     (21)  Market and promote sports-related activities and
 
23           events;
 

 
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 1     (22)  Coordinate the development of new products with the
 
 2           public and private sectors, including the development
 
 3           of sports, culture, health, education, business, and
 
 4           eco-tourism;
 
 5     (23)  Establish a public information and educational program
 
 6           to inform the public of tourism and tourism-related
 
 7           problems;
 
 8     (24)  Encourage the development of tourism educational,
 
 9           training, and career counseling programs;
 
10     (25)  Establish a program to monitor, investigate, and
 
11           respond to complaints about problems resulting directly
 
12           or indirectly from the tourism industry and taking
 
13           appropriate action as necessary; [and]
 
14     (26)  Fund and support projects which protect, preserve, and
 
15           promote natural resource management programs through
 
16           the department of land and natural resources; and
 
17     (27)  Do any and all things necessary to carry out its
 
18           purposes and exercise the powers given and granted in
 
19           this chapter."
 
20      SECTION 3.  Section 201B-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
21 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
22      "(a)  There is established in the state treasury the tourism
 
23 special fund, into which shall be deposited:
 

 
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 1      (1)  A portion of the revenues from any transient
 
 2           accommodations tax, as provided by section 237D-6.5;
 
 3           [and] provided that a percentage of such money shall be
 
 4           used for natural resource management programs of the
 
 5           department of land and natural resources as provided in
 
 6           section 201B-3(26);
 
 7      (2)  Appropriations by the legislature to the tourism
 
 8           special fund; and
 
 9      (3)  Gifts, grants, and other funds accepted by the
 
10           authority."
 
11      SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
12 New statutory material is underscored.
 
13      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000. 
 
14 
 
15                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________
 

 
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