STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1506

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1424

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Labor, Culture and the Arts and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1424, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VISITOR INFORMATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a visitor information center in the State Capitol; and

(2) Establish a visitor information center program to support the operation of the visitor information center.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i and one individual.

Your Committees find that tourism is the State's leading industry. Your Committees recognize that the Capitol district located in Honolulu is a historical, cultural, educational, and recreational hub for visitors and residents. Each year, the Capitol district draws many visitors who come to see and experience the historical sites and attractions in the area, including the State Capitol, Iolani Palace, Washington Place, Honolulu Hale, Kawaiaha‘o church, Hawaii State Art Museum, Queen Lili‘uokalani statue, and Father Damien statue, among others.

Your Committees find that a visitor information center located in the State Capitol would serve as a reliable and informative resource for informing and educating visitors about local areas and attractions, lodging, maps, transportation routes, and other services; promoting the State's tourist attractions, services, and products; and serving as an effective community information service to residents. This measure will provide visitors with information about the Capitol district and attract more visitors to the area.

Your Committees note that the visitor information center is intended to promote the historic and cultural aspects of the Capitol district, not to serve as a general tourism education center, or supplant other tourist resources or attractions, but rather to complement other visitor experiences.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the visitor information center is intended to educate visitors about the historic and cultural aspects of the State Capitol and its grounds and facilities;

(2) Inserting the language establishing the visitor information center in section 6E-34.5(f), Hawaii Revised Statutes, thereby placing the visitor information center under the jurisdiction of the state capitol management committee;

(3) Deleting language giving the joint legislative committee the authority to oversee the staff and operations of the visitor information center;

(4) Deleting the appropriations to the Senate and House of Representatives and instead appropriating funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Labor, Culture and the Arts and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1424, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1424, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Labor, Culture and the Arts and Government Operations,

________________________________ LAURA H. THIELEN, Chair

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair