STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 117-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: H.B. No. 1962
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 1962 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GAMBLING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Require the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to study the feasibility of, and revenue generation from, limited casino gaming and address the potential public health and safety concerns arising from limited casino gaming;
(2) Require a report to the Legislature; and
(3) Appropriate funds for the study.
Your Committee finds that residents of Hawaii generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity from gambling in other jurisdictions across the nation. Your Committee believes that a limited casino could have untapped revenue generation potential that would help the State recover from losses experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your Committee further finds that with over twenty-eight thousand native Hawaiians awaiting homestead leases, revenue generated by a limited casino could significantly help put native Hawaiian families in homes. Your Committee acknowledges the social concerns that come with casinos and gambling; however, your Committee believes that innovative solutions to improve economic development in the State and reduce the ever-growing waitlist for Hawaiian homestead leases are needed. Your Committee therefore finds that this measure merits further discussion as it continues through the legislative process.
Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1962, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1962, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs and Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,
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____________________________ SEAN QUINLAN, Chair |
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