STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2070

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: S.B. No. 2974

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2974 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal part I of Act 58, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, to make permanent the power of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) to hire an attorney for specialized services, supervise its own accounts, appoint a sports coordinator, and expend five per cent of special fund moneys for administration.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the HTA, Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association, and Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. Testimony in partial opposition was received from the State Attorney General.

The provisions of Act 58 which are the subject of this measure were intended to allow the HTA to execute its financial transactions more effectively, perform its contracts on a timely basis, improve its overall efficiencies, and be more responsive to stakeholders. According to testimony of the HTA, the intent of these provisions have been met and exceeded. Therefore, the sunset of these provisions in Act 58 should be removed and the provisions made permanent.

Your Committee was concerned in 2004 that the Attorney General was not providing the HTA with timely legal advice and contract reviews while the administration was unduly delaying the appointment of an overall sports coordinator for the HTA. Your Committee finds that the provisions of Act 58 have resulted in drastic improvements relating to the above-mentioned issues, and feel that Act 58 should be made permanent.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2974 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair