STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1772
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: S.C.R. No. 40
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Tourism & Culture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 40, S.D. 1, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A CARRYING CAPACITY STUDY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to assist Hawaii's tourism industry by requesting the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to conduct a carrying capacity study to determine the maximum capacity for tourists in the State, taking into consideration the most recent sustainability study conducted by DBEDT and any other information necessary to complete the carrying capacity study.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) opposed this measure.
Your Committee distributed a proposed H.D. 1 for this measure for public review and consideration. HTA and DBEDT supported the proposed H.D. 1.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the provisions of the proposed H.D. 1 that request DBEDT to, among other things:
(1) Study the possible impact to Hawaii of the non-extension of the deadline for biometrically-enabled passports for visitors to Hawaii from Visa Waiver program countries, including Japan; and
(2) Provide any data and findings regarding the possible economic impact of the non-extension of the deadline to Hawaii's Congressional delegation, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to assist in efforts to extend the deadline for compliance with the requirement for biometrically-enabled passports beyond October 26, 2005, to a date no earlier than March 31, 2006.
In addition, your Committee has amended the title of the concurrent resolution to read:
"Requesting the Department of BUsiness, Economic Development, and TOurism to study the possible impact of non-extension of the deadline for biometrically-enabled passports and to provide any data and findings to hawaii’s congressional delegation, AND THE U.S. DepartmentS of State, commerce, and Homeland Security to assist efforts in extending the deadline, for visa waiver program countries, for compliance with the requirement for issuance of biometrically-enabled passports."
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism & Culture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 40, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 40, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism & Culture,
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____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair |