STAND. COM. REP. NO.  420

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 332

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 332 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 further assist Hawaii's tourism industry by authorizing the Hawaii Tourism Authority to make grants for the development of visitor industry products and programs, through an agreement rather than through a contract.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Authorizes the Hawaii Tourism Authority to provide grants to support cultural programs, community-based tourism activities, such as festivals and events, environmental projects and other appropriate activities;

     (2)  Sets the required elements of a grant application;

     (3)  Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to monitor grants for performance; and

     (4)  Exempts these grants from the requirements of Hawaii grants and subsidies law.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority and a concerned individual supported this measure.

     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 H.B. No. 332 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair