THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              94
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A
    TRANSITION PLAN TO TRANSFER THE FUNCTIONS AND
    RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY TO THE
    HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY.



 1        WHEREAS, the visitor industry brings almost seven million
 2   visitors into the State every year, accounting for almost
 3   twenty-five per cent of the gross state product and over thirty
 4   per cent of all civilian jobs; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, it is extremely important that the development,
 7   marketing, and research of this industry be coordinated in a
 8   manner consistent with the needs of the State; and
 9   
10        WHEREAS, the powers and duties of the Hawaii Tourism
11   Authority include the development and implementation of tourism
12   policy for the State, and the formulation and implementation of
13   strategic marketing plans for Hawaii's visitor industry; and
14   
15        WHEREAS, although the primary purpose of the Convention
16   Center Authority was to supervise construction of the
17   Convention Center, the Authority is also responsible for
18   managing, operating, and maintaining the Convention Center; and
19   
20        WHEREAS, because marketing the Convention Center is not a
21   direct responsibility of the Convention Center Authority,
22   marketing services for the Hawaii Convention Center are
23   currently provided by the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
24   with funding from the Hawaii Tourism Authority; and
25   
26        WHEREAS, the state Auditor recently released an "Audit of
27   the Convention Center Authority" and concluded that although
28   the Convention Center Authority's management controls are
29   generally in place, two important controls, an evaluation
30   mechanism and procedures to ensure compliance with the State
31   Procurement Code, need to be tightened; and

 
 
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 1   
 2        WHEREAS, the Auditor also noted that the most important
 3   issue is the need to "retain public oversight" to protect the
 4   State's interest in the $200 million Convention Center; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, the operations responsibility and the marketing
 7   responsibility of the convention center are divided between two
 8   state agencies; and
 9   
10        WHEREAS, in the interest of efficiency and effectiveness,
11   these responsibilities should fall under the purview of one
12   state agency; and, as the lead state agency for tourism, it is
13   appropriate that these responsibilities be assigned to the
14   Hawaii Tourism Authority; now, therefore,
15   
16        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
17   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, that the
18   Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to establish a transition
19   plan, including proposed legislation, to transfer the functions
20   and responsibilities of the Convention Center Authority to the
21   Hawaii Tourism Authority; and
22   
23        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority
24   is requested to submit its transition plan to this body before
25   December 31, 2000, and the transition plan resolve or address
26   issues including, but not limited to:
27   
28        (1)  Specifying clear objectives and responsibilities of
29             the operators of the Convention Center;
30   
31        (2)  Defining and communicating the level of performance
32             expected from the Convention Center's operator;
33   
34        (3)  Monitoring the accomplishments of these objectives;
35   
36        (4)  Developing or implementing an evaluation mechanism
37             that uses clear and consistent measurement criteria;
38   
39        (5)  Establishing procedures to ensure that the Convention
40             Center is operated in full compliance with the State
41             Procurement Code;
42   
43        (6)  Specifying how the Hawaii Tourism Authority will
44             ensure the equitable treatment of vendors;
45   
46        (7)  Specifying how the Hawaii Tourism Authority will
47             resolve remaining punchlist and warranty items to

 
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 1             ensure that all state interests in the Convention
 2             Center are protected and that the designer/builder
 3             assures all costs for which it is responsible;
 4   
 5   and
 6   
 7        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 8   Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of
 9   the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Chairperson of the Convention
10   Center Authority, the President of the Hawaii Visitors and
11   Convention Bureau, and the Director of the Department of
12   Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
13   
14 
15 
16 
17                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________