STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1642-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 490

      S.D. 3

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 490, S.D. 3, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide $2,000,000 per year for three years to develop and implement initiatives that take advantage of expanded visa programs to increase travel opportunities for international visitors who wish to visit Hawaii.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a blank amount for transient accommodations tax revenue allocated for deposit into the tourism special fund;

     (2)  Inserting a blank amount to be expended for the development and implementation of programs to increase travel opportunities for international visitors to Hawaii;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2030, to facilitate further discussion; and

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

     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 S.B. No. 490, S.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 490, S.D. 3, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair