HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	914
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY RELATING TO COVID-19 EXPENDITURES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. The impact of the "SARS-CoV-2" virus and resulting "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19) has been devastating to global, national, and state economies.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136, was enacted on March 27, 2020, to address the extensive health and economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and provided federal funds to support the State's COVID-19 relief efforts. With the expiration of federal CARES Act funds, the State finds that additional funds are needed to continue funding critical COVID-19 response programs and activities for the remainder of fiscal year 2020-2021.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the purpose of COVID-19 response activities and provide transparency and accountability for the use of those funds.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the Hawaii tourism authority in the department of business, economic development and tourism; provided that $3,000,000 of the appropriation shall be used to reimburse the Hawaii convention center for costs related to the use of the convention center for unemployment insurance and contact tracing efforts; and provided further that $2,500,000 of the appropriation shall be used for costs related to restarting airlift from Asia and Oceania to Hawaii.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii tourism authority for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. Provided that the governor is authorized to transfer funds appropriated by this Act among all executive agencies as may be deemed necessary; and provided further that the governor is authorized to transfer funds in excess of what is needed for the Hawaii tourism authority to the governor's contingency fund as deemed necessary by the governor for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that all funds appropriated pursuant to this Act that are unallotted or unencumbered shall lapse as of June 30, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Emergency Appropriations Relating to COVID-19 Expenditures

Description:

Provides an emergency appropriation in fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Hawaii Tourism Authority for COVID-19 response related programs and activities.

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