THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	170
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		Proposed

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TOURISM.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 201B-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The authority shall be responsible for:

     (1)  Promoting, marketing, and developing the tourism industry in the State;

     (2)  Arranging for the conduct of research through contractual services with the University of Hawaii or any agency or other qualified persons concerning social, economic, and environmental aspects of tourism development in the State; provided that, where public disclosure of information gathered by the authority may place businesses at a competitive disadvantage and impair or frustrate the authority's ability to obtain information for a legitimate government function, the authority may withhold from public disclosure competitively sensitive information, including:

         (A)  Completed survey and questionnaire forms;

         (B)  Coding sheets; and

         (C)  Database records of the information;

     (3)  Providing technical or other assistance to agencies and private industry upon request;

     (4)  Creating a vision and developing a long-range strategic plan for tourism in Hawaii; [and]

(5) Perpetuating the uniqueness of the native Hawaiian culture and community and the importance of the native Hawaiian culture and community to the quality of the visitor experience by ensuring that:

(A) Native Hawaiian culture is accurately portrayed by Hawaii's visitor industry;

(B) Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and cultural sites that give value to Hawaii's heritage are supported, nurtured, and engaged in sustaining the visitor industry; and

(C) A native Hawaiian cultural education and training program is provided for the visitor industry workforce having direct contact with visitors; and

    [(5)] (6)  Reviewing annually the expenditure of public funds by any visitor industry organization with which the authority contracts to perform tourism promotion, marketing, and development and making recommendations necessary to ensure the effective use of the funds for the development of tourism.  The authority shall also prepare annually a report of expenditures, including descriptions and evaluations of programs funded, together with any recommendations the authority may make and shall submit the report to the governor and the legislature as part of the annual report required under section 201B-16."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Tourism; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Native Hawaiian Culture

Description:

Expands the powers and duties of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to include perpetuating the uniqueness of the native Hawaiian culture and community and the importance of the native Hawaiian culture and community to the quality of the visitor experience by ensuring that native Hawaiian culture is accurately portrayed by the visitor industry; that cultural practitioners and cultural sites that give value to Hawaii's heritage are supported; and that a native Hawaiian cultural education and training program is provided for the visitor industry workforce having direct contact with visitors.  (Proposed SD1)

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