STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2662

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2693

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2693 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FESTIVAL OF PACIFIC ARTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to plan for the Thirteenth Festival of Pacific Arts in 2020.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Kamehameha Schools; Mu'olaulani-Halau Hula Ka No'eau; Pacific Islanders in Communications; Pa'i Foundation; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii; Royal Hawaiian Center; and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii, for the first time, has been selected to host the Festival of Pacific Arts in 2020, and that in order to prepare for the event, it is necessary to provide funds for the Temporary Commission on the Thirteenth Festival of Pacific Arts, as established by Act 104, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism projects $21,700,000 in tax revenue directly associated with visitor spending associated with the Thirteenth Festival of Pacific Arts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $1,500,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 2693, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2693, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair