STAND. COM. REP. NO. 957

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 321

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 321, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal the allocation of excess transient accommodations tax revenues that are going to the Turtle Bay Conservation Easement Special Fund, Hawaiian Center and the Museum of Hawaiian Music and Dance, counties, and Special Land and Development Fund;

(2) Repeal the 0.5 percent allocation for the Tourism Special Fund to provide funding for a safety and security budget; and

(3) Amend the allocations to the Convention Center Enterprise Special Fund and Tourism Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor of the County of Maui, one member of the Kaua‘i County Council, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, one member of the Maui County Council, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and Kohala Coast Resort Association.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 321, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair