STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1501-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 3074

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 3074 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOTEL CLASS LIQUOR LICENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of "hotel" in the liquor licensing law by deleting the requirement that, in order to qualify for a hotel class liquor license, a hotel must have a kitchen and dining room where meals are regularly prepared and served to hotel guests and other customers.

The Liquor Commission of the City and County of Honolulu, the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, and the Outrigger Enterprises Group provided testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the hotel industry has undergone recent changes and many modern hotels no longer include a kitchen and dining room where meals are regularly prepared and served to hotel guests and other customers.  Therefore, these newer hotels do not qualify for a hotel class liquor license under the existing law.  Your Committee believes that this measure will conform legal requirements to modern business practices and allow smaller hotels to experience growth similar to that of their larger counterparts.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3074 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair