STAND. COM. REP. NO. 140-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2012

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 2012 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allocate funds from transient accommodations tax revenues, subject to a dollar-for-dollar match from the private sector, to the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) for the implementation of initiatives, in conjunction with the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA), to address homelessness in tourist and resort areas.

Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, IMUAlliance, and Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee supported this measure. The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness supported the intent of this measure. A concerned individual opposed this measure. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and Life of the Land submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the HTA to submit a status report to the Legislature on its prior and future initiatives with the HLTA, relating to homelessness in tourist and resort areas, including costs and funding sources; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for consistency, clarity, 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 H.B. No. 2012, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2012, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health & Human Services.

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

____________________________

RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Chair