STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2073

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 490

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 490 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this short form bill is to amend the law relating to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting language that, beginning July 1, 2012:

     (1)  Increases the allocation of the transient accommodations tax revenue for the Hawaii Tourism Authority from $69,000,000 to $71,000,000; and

     (2)  Requires $2,000,000 to be expended for development and implementation of initiatives to take advantage of expanded visa programs and increased travel opportunities for international visitors to Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 490, as amended herein, and recommends that it be recommitted to the Committee on Tourism, in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 490, S.D. 1, for further consideration.

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

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair