STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1367

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 683

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 683, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES VII AND X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH A SURCHARGE ON RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT PROPERTY AND VISITOR ACCOMMODATIONS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase funding to provide for a quality public education for the children of Hawaii by proposing amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution that would allow the Legislature to establish a surcharge on residential investment property and visitor accommodations.

The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii State Teachers Association, IMUAlliance, Hui for Excellence in Education, Parents for Public Schools of Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Progressive Democrats of Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii Association of School Psychologists, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The County of Hawaii Office of the Mayor, County of Hawaii Department of Finance–Real Property Tax, County of Maui Office of the Mayor, Chair of the Maui County Council, County of Kauai Department of Finance, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Hawaii Association of REALTORS, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Coalition for Equal Taxation, Condominium Rentals Hawaii, Outrigger Hotels Hawaii, and many individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Education, Department of Budget and Finance, City and County of Honolulu Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Committee for Education Funding, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and Autism Society of Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 683, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 683, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair