STAND. COM. REP. NO.1434

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.C.R. No. 198

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 198 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING AN ELECTRONIC VISA SYSTEM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request a study on the feasibility of implementing an electronic visa system.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committees find that local, national, and international economic, social, and political events have drastically curtailed the amount of travel throughout the world. Travel to Hawaii has been seriously curtailed, severely affecting the State's economy at all levels. Your Committees believe that facilitating the granting of visas to international travelers to Hawaii through an electronic visa system may be one way to stimulate Hawaii's tourism industry and overall economy.

Your Committees have amended this measure by also requesting the State of Hawaii's congressional delegation and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to participate in determining the feasibility of implementing an electronic visa system for international travelers to the United States, including Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 198, as amended herein, recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 198, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

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CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair