STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3507

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1847

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1847, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate $750,000 in general funds for a sports and entertainment authority to coordinate and develop the entertainment and sports industry in the State.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.  Written comments were received from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Stadium Authority, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that a sports and entertainment authority will be able to tap into Hawaii's unique location and potential as an entertainment and sporting destination of the Asia Pacific region and enhance the work of the Hawaii Tourism Authority by providing supporting research and attracting events during off-peak tourism months.  Further, by marketing, promoting, and building Hawaii as a premiere sports and entertainment destination with the capacity to host a myriad of diverse events throughout the year, the State will be able to strengthen its financial position by diversifying its existing economic opportunities.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Removing references to specific staff positions within the sports and entertainment authority, other than the president and chief executive officer;

(2)  Removing language that authorized the authority to appoint and retain its own attorneys;

(3)  Changing the appropriation from $750,000 to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4)  Clarifying the purposes of the appropriation.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1847, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1847, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair