STAND. COM. REP. NO.  339

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 754

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism, Culture, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 754 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to amend the composition of the Board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) by:

     (1)  Allowing the mayors of each county, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, to make appointments in place of the gubernatorial appointments; and

     (2)  Removing the ex-officio members of the Board and including them in an advisory group to HTA.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism opposed this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing provisions that allow the mayors of each county, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, to make appointments in place of the gubernatorial appointments;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism, Culture, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 754, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 754, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOEY MANAHAN, Chair