CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 48

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2009

RE:    H.B. No. 994

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

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. 994, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"

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 establish space tourism in Hawaii and expand the technology sector of our economy by appropriating moneys out of the Airport Revenue and Tourism Special Funds to apply to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a spaceport license.

     Space tourism could significantly increase state revenue sources, provide new aerospace jobs, and rejuvenate economic development in the Kalaeloa area.  However, as only a few spaceport licenses are available from the FAA, timely passage of this measure is essential.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments to ensure that the funds appropriated from the Airport Revenue and Tourism Special Funds may be expended by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the spaceport license application;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2009; and

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

     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. 994, 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. 994, 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

_______________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair	____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Co-Chair
_______________________________ SHAN S. TSUTSUI, Co-Chair	____________________________ ISAAC W. CHOY, Co-Chair
_______________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Co-Chair