STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1422

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 103

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 103 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO WORK WITH AIRLINE COMPANIES TO SHOW OCEAN SAFETY VIDEOS ON HAWAII-BOUND FLIGHTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Hawaii Tourism Authority to work with airline companies to show ocean safety videos on Hawaii-bound flights.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Lifeguard Association, and four individuals. 

     According to the Hawaii State Department of Health, drowning has been the leading cause of fatal injury to visitors for the past twenty years.  At least a dozen Hawaii visitors have been killed in accidents so far this year.  Rescue personnel are frequently placed in danger when recovering injured hikers and swimmers.  Your Committees find that showing recreational safety videos that educate visitors about the dangers inherent in ocean and inland activities would be a significant step toward preventing further accidental injuries and deaths.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Expanding the types of companies urged to show safety videos to include hotels and other companies in the visitor industry;

     (2)  Expanding the scope of the safety videos to include all recreational activities rather than only ocean activities;

     (3)  Amending the title for consistency; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Transportation and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 103, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 103, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs and Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA, Chair