STAND. COM. REP. NO. 882-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 2399

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTER-ISLAND FERRY SERVICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to enhance ferry service between the islands of Maui county by affording preferential consideration for ferry landings, but not other commercial purposes, to all small boat facilities within Maui county.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, and Paradise Cruise, Ltd., testified in support of this bill.

Your Committee recognizes concerns raised that when the same vessels used for inter-island ferry service are competing in the dinner cruise, excursion, or charter trades, they should pay the fees and abide by the traffic and berthing process common to the rest of the cruise boat industry within those same harbors. This requirement will ensure a level playing field for all tax- and fee- paying operators when these special purpose vessels are operating beyond the parameters of their special purpose venue.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2399, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

____________________________

DWIGHT TAKAMINE, Chair