Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2709 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purposes of this measure are to assign responsibility to market, operate, manage, and maintain the Hawaii convention center facility to the Hawaii Tourism Authority; and establish a Hawaii convention center enterprise special fund and a convention center facility reserve special fund.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), and Hawaii Hotel Association. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that this measure would clarify the responsibility for the Hawaii Convention Center, an issue that has been clouded since the Convention Center Authority law expired on June 30, 2000.

Your Committee further finds that the convention center is of great importance to the visitor industry of the State and that this measure will ensure greater accountability and efficiency for the convention center.

Your Committee has amended this measure to formally repeal the convention center authority law, effective June 30, 2000, as provided for in S.B. No. 2459, which was previously heard in this Committee, conform the effective date to the various amendments to the bill, and to make technical amendments to conform to preferred drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2709, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2709, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.