STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1123-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 83

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 83, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO APPROPRIATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the costs incurred by the University of Hawaii Intercollegiate Athletics Program.  More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Appropriates moneys from the Tourism Special Fund for fiscal year 2016-2017 for travel expenses and subsidies incurred by the University of Hawaii Intercollegiate Athletics Program; and

(2)  Requires the Governor to determine whether funding of the travel expenses and subsidies of the University of Hawaii Intercollegiate Athletics Program from the Tourism Special Fund should be extended beyond fiscal year 2016-2017, and if so, to take appropriate action to implement the funding.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa; University of Hawaii at Hilo; The Maritime Group, LLC; KAI Hawaii, Inc.; Chevron Hawaii; Grove Farm Company; Maui Land and Pineapple Company; and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Hawaii Tourism Authority; Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Chairperson of the Maui County Council; Councilmember of the Maui County Council; Office of Economic Development of the County of Kauai; Waimea Town Celebration; Hawaii Tourism Japan; Ho‘okipa Network - Kauai and Aha Moku Kauai; Ko‘olau Foundation; Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; Maui Hotel and Lodging Association; Napili Kai Beach Resort; Outrigger Hotels and Resorts; Hawaii Forest Industry Association; Hawaiian Airlines; Spike and Serve; Waikoloa Land Company; Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii; The Modern Honolulu; Kai Opua Canoe Club; Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau; Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau; Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel; JTB Hawaii, Inc.; Kona Coffee Cultural Festival; RH Productions, LLC; Kintetsu International Hawaii Company; Halekulani; Blue Hawaiian Helicopters; 141 Premiere Sports and Entertainment; Marriott Resorts Hawaii; Hilton Hawaii; Hawaii Food and Wine Festival; Starwood Hotels and Resorts in Hawaii; Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association; Oahu Economic Development Board; Moanalua Gardens Foundation; Japan Hawaii Travel Association; Duke's OceanFest; Kobayashi Travel Service, Ltd.; Polynesian Hospitality Transportation; Alan Wong's Restaurants; and numerous concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Mayor of the County of Maui, ILWU Local 142, Hanapepe Economic Alliance, and a few concerned individuals offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amount from the Tourism Special Fund for fiscal year 2016-2017 for travel expenses and subsidies incurred by the University of Hawaii Intercollegiate Athletics Program to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2120 to promote further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 83, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 83, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair