STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1277

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 994

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 994, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to promote tourism and to stimulate technology development in Hawaii.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates funds for the State to apply for a spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration.

     Your Committee received five written comments on this measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that space tourism based in Hawaii has commercial, technological, and educational potential that could stimulate the visitor industry in the State, as well as provide a significant contribution to the diversification of our economy.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure to change the effective date to July 1, 2113, to facilitate further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 994, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 994, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair