STAND. COM. REP. NO.  257

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 960

      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. 960 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 provide flexibility to the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) in a tourism emergency by:

     (1)  Defining "tourism emergency";

     (2)  Removing references to specific situations that constitute a tourism emergency in the existing statute;

     (3)  Removing the provision requiring the Governor to declare that a tourism emergency exists;

     (4)  Removing stipulations that tourism emergency response measures not adversely affect organized labor in tourism-related industries; and

     (5)  Requiring HTA to develop plans and programs meeting specific criteria.

     HTA, the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association, and Outrigger Hotels testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism supported the intent of this measure.  UNITE HERE! Local 5 opposed this bill.

     Your Committee notes that concerns were raised with the language in this measure as originally drafted and took those concerns into consideration in amending this measure. 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by replacing its substantive content with a provision that expands the description of a tourism emergency to include a regional or worldwide economic crisis.  Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made 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. 960, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 960, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Public Safety.

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

____________________________

JOEY MANAHAN, Chair