STAND. COM. REP. NO.  522

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1718

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism & Culture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1718, H.D. 1, 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), and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), with input from the cruise industry, to undertake a cost and benefit analysis of the cruise industry in Hawaii. 

     DOT, DLNR, HTA, County of Kauai, North West CruiseShip Association, Princess Cruises, Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association, and Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, supported this bill.  DBEDT, NCL America, and Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will assist the Legislature in making policy decisions with respect to the cruise industry.  Your Committee notes that the analysis includes the cost and benefits to each individual county, as well as to the State as a whole.  Your Committee encourages further discussion on whether the counties should provide input in conducting the analysis.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting the Department of Health in the list of state agencies that DBEDT is to work with in conducting the cost and benefit analysis;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism & Culture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1718, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1718, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism & Culture,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair