HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

236

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of hawaiian home lands to establish a gaming task force to study the economic and social impacts of allowing gaming and establishing casino operations on Hawaiian Home Lands.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is exploring options to establish a consistent and sustainable cash flow to financially support its programs; and

 

     WHEREAS, many destinations that are competing with Hawaii for visitor dollars have legal gaming in some form; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is one of only two states that prohibit all types of gaming; and

 

     WHEREAS, those opposed to legal gaming argue that these forms of gaming will not attract new dollars from outside Hawaii, but instead will cause a shift in spending patterns, which will ultimately be detrimental to local residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, on the other hand, proponents of gaming argue that the State loses millions in revenue each year to other jurisdictions that allow gaming; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requested to establish a Gaming Task Force to study the advantages and disadvantages, including but not limited to economic and social impacts, of allowing gaming and establishing casino operations on Hawaiian home lands; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to include the following members:

 

     (1)  The Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee;

 

     (2)  The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism or the Director's designee;

 

     (3)  The Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs or the Director's designee;

 

     (4)  The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaiian Tourism Authority or the Chairperson's designee; and

 

     (5)  The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau or the Chairperson's designee; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Task Force shall select a chairperson from among themselves; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaiian Tourism Authority; and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Hawaiian Home Lands Gaming Task Force