STAND. COM. REP. NO.657
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: S.B. No. 1461
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1461 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to require the counties to earmark two per cent of their transient accommodations tax allocations to tourism promotions and visitor industry enhancements.
Your Committees on Tourism and Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations previously received favorable testimony from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Maui Hotel Association. Testimony was also received from the Department of Taxation, and a Kauai county council member. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.
Your Committee finds that reinvestment of transient accommodations tax revenues into tourism promotions and visitor industry enhancements ensure that the State's primary economic engine remains strong and vital. By requiring the counties to join the State in this objective, tourism promotion and visitor industry enhancement costs are more equitably apportioned between the counties and the State for the mutual benefit of both.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1461 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
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