STAND. COM. REP. NO.  991

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1718

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1718, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRUISELINE INDUSTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide the Legislature with information regarding the impact of the cruise industry on Hawaii by requiring the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), in conjunction with the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Department of Health, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), and with input from the cruise industry, to undertake a cost-and-benefit analysis of the cruise industry in Hawaii.

     DLNR, DOT, HTA, Kauai County Office of Economic Development, the Sierra Club-Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association, North West CruiseShip Association, and NCL America testified in support of this bill.  DBEDT and Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation in an unspecified sum for the

          cost-and-benefit analysis; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style,

          clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1718, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1718, H.D. 3.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair