STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1025

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 994

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 994, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the State to apply for a spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration for the purposes of increasing tourism and stimulating technology development.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from three private organizations and one former Governor of the State.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was received from one individual.  Testimony with comments on this measure was received from one state agency.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that market studies have shown that space tourism has the potential to become a billion-dollar industry over the next ten years.  Your Committees further find that additional applications for rocket technologies, including the launch of satellites and scientific payloads into sub-earth and low-earth orbits, research and educational functions, and long distance suborbital transport have great commercial potential.  Your Committees note that Hawaii's geographic position makes this State especially well-suited for both commercial and tourism applications of rocket technology.  Your Committees find that development of a spaceport will enrich Hawaii's tourism offerings while also contributing to the development of a diversified economy that includes scientific, commercial, and educational sectors. 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by revising its funding structure to appropriate $250,000 out of the Airport Revenue Fund and $250,000 out of the Tourism Special Fund so that no general revenue funds are required for the implementation of this measure. 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 994, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 994, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Tourism,

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair