STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1166

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.R. No. 151

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 151 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO CREATE A STATUTORY DEFINITION OF CREATIVE WORKERS AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX MAY BE USED TO ASSIST CREATIVE WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study to create a statutory definition of creative workers and develop recommendations on how the transient accommodations tax may be used to assist creative workers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that creative artists in the State have experienced significant economic hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on Hawaii's economy, particularly the tourism industry. Your Committee further finds that in a June 2020 report by the Brookings Institute, Hawaii was ranked as one of the top five states with a creative sector that has been affected by COVID-19 with job and revenue losses greater than the national average of 30.3 percent.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 151 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Culture, Arts, & International Affairs,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair