STAND. COM. REP. NO. 597
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 891
S.D. 2
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 891, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Establish
a Gaming Working Group within the Department of Business, Economic Development,
and Tourism; and
(2) Require
a report to the Legislature.
Your Committee received testimony in
opposition to this measure from four individuals.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Stadium Authority; and Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.
Your Committee finds that developing a comprehensive gaming policy framework will serve as a catalyst for economic activity, employment, investment, and a significant source of tax revenue for the State. Your Committee believes that extensive study of gaming activities is necessary for the adoption of a successful gaming policy for the State. Therefore, by establishing a gaming working group to analyze key decisions for the enactment of effective gaming policy, this measure will provide the Legislature with information to ensure effective legislation to:
(1) Examine the potential for gaming activities at the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District; and
(2) Examine how gaming activities may support the work being done by the Department of Business, Environmental Development, and Tourism and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Your
Committee notes the concerns raised in the testimony of the Department of
Business, Economic Development, and Tourism regarding the administrative
support staffing of the Gaming Working Group.
Your Committee finds that this issue raises concerns that merit further
consideration and respectfully requests that subsequent Committees to which
this measure is referred examine the issues and concerns raised by the
testimony.
Your
Committee also notes that more consideration and information is necessary for
successful comprehensive legislation governing gaming in the State. Therefore, your Committee respectfully
requests that subsequent Committees to which this measure is referred consider
requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on past gaming
legislation in the State and submit a report to the Legislature.
Your Committee has
amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the name of the working group from the "Gaming Working Group" to the "Tourism and Gaming Working Group";
(2) Clarifying that the Working Group shall develop a comprehensive tourism gaming policy framework;
(4) Deleting language that would have added three members of the public to the Working Group;
(5) Inserting language to include the following members on the Working Group:
(A) One individual representing Native Hawaiian culture, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the Working Group;
(B) One individual with social services experience dealing with behavioral addictions, to be invited by the co-chairpersons of the Working Group;
(C) A representative from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;
(D) A representative from the Department of Law Enforcement; and
(E) A
representative from the Department of Taxation; and
(6) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 891, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 891, S.D. 2, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism,
|
|
|
________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair |
|
|
|
|