CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 167

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    H.B. No. 575

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 575, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCIES,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to help protect Hawaii's visitors and residents by:

     (1)  Requiring the Board of Directors (Board) of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) to request the Governor to declare that a tourism emergency exists if the Board of HTA determines that an adverse effect on Hawaii's tourism industry resulting from world conflict, terrorist threat, natural disaster, disease outbreak, or other catastrophic event may result in a substantial interruption of commerce in Hawaii and adversely affect the welfare of its people;

     (2)  Upon the Governor's declaration that a tourism emergency exists, requiring HTA to develop and implement measures to respond to the tourism emergency;

     (3)  Establishing a Tourism Emergency Trust Fund (Trust Fund) to provide for the development and implementation of emergency measures to respond to the tourism emergency; and

     (4)  Specifying that, except for certain funds, funds in the Tourism Special Fund must be deposited into the Trust Fund in a manner sufficient to maintain a balance of $5,000,000 in the Trust Fund.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying under the list of powers for HTA that HTA may develop and implement measures to respond to any adverse effects on the tourism industry;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2007; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 575, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 575, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair	____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Co-Chair
____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Co-Chair	____________________________ CINDY EVANS, Co-Chair
____________________________ SHAN S. TSUTSUI, Co-Chair	____________________________ JOEY MANAHAN, Co-Chair