STAND. COM. REP. NO.  103-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3348

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism & Culture, to which was referred H.B. No. 3348 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide additional financial resources to support historical preservation efforts by transferring a portion of the transient accommodations tax revenue currently deposited into the Tourism Special Fund to the Historic Preservation Fund. 

     National Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Hawaii Foundation, Hawaii Theatre Center, Special Events Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association opposed this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism submitted comments. 

     Your Committee notes that public testimony for this bill indicated strong concerns regarding the diversion of Tourism Special Fund monies for the Historic Preservation Fund.

     In light of these concerns, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing it with a bill that:

     (1)  Provides an appropriation of $500,000 in general funds for the funding of the Hawaii Preservation Fund endowment; provided that no moneys shall be released until the appropriated amount is matched by an equal amount of private contributions to the Hawaii Preservation Fund endowment; and

     (2)  Contains an effective date of July 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 3348, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3348, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair