STAND. COM. REP. NO.  899

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 994

      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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 994, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage the growth of the technology sector of Hawaii's economy and expand the State's tourism potential through space tourism by appropriating funds to apply for a spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration.

     Rocketplane Global, Inc., the Hokkaido Aerospace Science & Technology Incubation Center, and two concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism offered comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 994, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair