Report Title:

Tourism Emergency

 

Description:

Broadens the scope of a "tourism emergency" to include a regional or worldwide economic crisis.  (HB960 HD2)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

960

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


SECTION 1.  In 2007, the legislature, cognizant of the impact world events may have on the flow of tourists to our State, created the tourism emergency trust fund as a mechanism to protect our visitors and residents in the event of national disasters, terrorist threats, and other catastrophic emergencies.  Act 201, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2007, also directed the Hawaii tourism authority to prepare and implement response measures when there is a threat that may cause a substantial interruption in the State's tourism industry.  The legislature finds that tourism emergencies may result from many causes that were not originally contemplated by Act 201, SLH 2007.  A weakening national economy, recession, and credit market crisis may not meet the standard of a catastrophic event, making it difficult for the Hawaii tourism authority to address these issues under current law.

The purpose of this Act is to broaden the scope of a "tourism emergency" to include regional and worldwide economic crises that impact Hawaii's largest industry.

     SECTION 2.  Section 201B-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  If the board determines that the occurrence of a world conflict, terrorist threat, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, regional or worldwide economic crisis, or other catastrophic event, regardless of when or where it occurs, adversely affects Hawaii's tourism industry by resulting in a substantial interruption in the commerce of the State and adversely affecting the welfare of its people, the board shall submit a request to the governor to declare that a tourism emergency exists."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.