STAND. COM. REP. NO. 838

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 994

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 994 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STADIUM AUTHORITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the powers and duties of the Stadium Authority to enable it to redevelop the real property occupied by Aloha Stadium.

     More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Requires the Stadium Authority to adopt rules requiring developers to dedicate land or facilities for public facilities, or cash payments in lieu thereof, as a condition of developing real property pursuant to a stadium complex area development plan;

(2)  Authorizes the Stadium Authority to appoint or retain its own attorneys to provide legal contract negotiation services in cases in which the Attorney General lacks expertise; and

(3)  Establishes additional powers and duties of the Stadium Authority, including the:

          (A)  Preparation of a stadium complex development plan; and

          (B)  Acquisition and development of property and projects.

     Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Stadium Authority, IMUAlliance, and Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.

     Your Committees find that Aloha Stadium is a forty year old facility situated on approximately ninety-nine acres of land.  Reports have shown that the cost of repairing Aloha Stadium to an operationally safe level is significantly higher than the cost of construction and operation of a modern stadium that would be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  A new and modern stadium project that utilizes the full amount of available land is more likely to attract world-class events and reward residents and visitors with a more enjoyable experience when attending events at the Stadium.  However, various obstacles have prevented the Authority from engaging stakeholders in the development of a master plan for a new stadium.  Your Committees believe that the Authority needs expanded powers and duties in order to overcome those obstacles and develop the stadium property to its fullest potential.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 994, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 994, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary and Labor,

________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair

________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair