STAND. COM. REP. NO.  706

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1259

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1259, H.D. 1, 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 enhance the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) by:

(1)  Making permanent certain statutory provisions granting the Hawaii Tourism Authority more independence in managing its affairs and oversight authority over its financial operations that would have expired on June 30, 2015; and

(2)  Increasing the cap on funds used for administrative expenses to 6.5 percent of the funds in the Tourism Special Fund.  

The Hawaii Tourism Authority and Outrigger Hotels Hawaii supported this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1259, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair