STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2728

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2382

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2382 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CABARET LICENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the issuance of cabaret licenses to premises located within the apartment mixed use subprecinct of the Waikiki special district.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that certain establishments holding class 11 cabaret licenses issued by county liquor authorities have created public safety and noise issues for residents and visitors, especially in resort areas where cabarets are permitted to transact business until 4:00 a.m. throughout the entire week. This measure would restrict the issuance of cabaret licenses within the apartment mixed use subprecinct of the Waikiki special district to assist with reducing noise and crime and promote increased public safety and wellness.

Your Committee has heard the concerns raised in testimony that this measure does not apply uniformly throughout all political subdivisions of the State. Accordingly, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this concern.

Your Committee has amended this measure by uniformly applying the restriction on cabaret license issuance to all county mixed use subprecincts in which the economy is primarily based on tourism.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2382, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2382, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair