STAND. COM. REP. NO. 449
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 1571
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Economic Development and Tourism and Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1571 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOURISM,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Exempt all positions within the
Hawaii Tourism Authority from the State's Civil Service Law;
(2) Provide that the powers described in
section 201B-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be granted to the Hawaii Tourism
Authority except as otherwise provided by law;
(3) Amend the definition of
"convention center facility" for purposes of chapter 201B, Hawaii
Revised Statutes; and
(4) Amend the eligibility requirements
to serve on the Hawaii Tourism Authority Board of Directors.
Your Committees received testimony in
opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees
Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO
and two individuals.
Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
Your Committees
find that the Hawaii Tourism Authority was established in 1998 to serve as the
State's lead agency supporting tourism, the State's largest industry. Your Committees find that this
measure by exempting all positions
within the Hawaii Tourism Authority from the State's Civil Service Law, will
enable the Authority to hire best-qualified professionals. Your Committees further find that this
measure will allow the Authority to more effectively and strategically manage
Hawaii's tourism in a sustainable manner, consistent with economic goals,
cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community values, and
visitor industry needs.
Your Committees note the concerns raised during the hearing on this measure
regarding the proposed repeal of the prohibition against individuals who served
as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention
Bureau (HVCB Board) from serving on the Hawaii Tourism Authority Board of
Directors until at least two years after the termination of the individual's
service on the HVCB, as doing so would negate the discussions held on the
matter during prior legislative sessions.
Your Committees believe
this conversation merits further consideration and
respectfully requests that subsequent Committees to which this measure is
referred examine the issues.
Accordingly, your
Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Tourism and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1571, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1571, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development and Tourism and Labor and Technology,
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________________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair |
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________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair |
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