RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, many improvements and repairs need to be made to the State's harbors, including small boat harbors; and

WHEREAS, safety and security issues are also major concerns at those harbors; and

WHEREAS, funding for repairs, safety, and security at the State's boat harbors is supposed to be provided through the Special Boating Fund; and

WHEREAS, revenue derived from harbor-related fees are deposited into the state general fund, but does not return to the Special Boating Fund in the same proportion; and

WHEREAS, there is insufficient funds in the Special Boating Fund to pay for proper maintenance, safety, and security for the State's harbors; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to examine the feasibility of dedicating ten percent of general excise tax revenues received from the direct revenues generated by the ocean recreation industry during the preceding fiscal year for deposit into the Special Boating Fund established pursuant to section 248-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), to supplement general revenues for the payment of costs enumerated under section 200-8, HRS, as well as for boating safety and security; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Taxation is requested to establish guidelines and procedures to enable the determination of direct revenues generated by ocean recreation industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature, not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources evaluate the best methods of addressing the Special Boating Fund's shortfall of funds and make recommendations for resolving the problem, including possible statutory changes for implementation in 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources report findings and recommendations to the Legislature, not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Director of Budget and Finance, the Director of Taxation, and the Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title:

Statewide Boating Program