THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1312

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to economic sustainability.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that continued workforce placement and funding for jobs at the department of land and natural resources, and certain non-profit organizations, from the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act will ensure local residents continued opportunity for employment that helps address the many challenges facing Hawaii.  Creating jobs with a focus on natural resource management will also help Hawaii meet the sustainability goals of the Aloha+ Challenge, adopted by the State in July 2014.  The Aloha+ Challenge is a statewide commitment to sustainability, with the leadership of the legislature, governor, four county mayors, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Hawaii green growth public-private partners across the State.  The Aloha+ Challenge: He Nohona Aeoia, a Culture of Sustainability, builds on Hawaii's history of systems thinking, Hawaiian culture and values, and a successful track record on sustainability.  It outlines six ambitious goals to be achieved by 2030, one of which includes an increase in local green job placement.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide local residents with jobs that help Hawaii manage and protect its natural resources by establishing:

     (1)  The sustainable Hawaii workforce program;

     (2)  The sustainable Hawaii workforce advisory committee;

     (3)  The sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund; and

     (4)  A sustainable tourism tax of 1.5 per cent on transient accommodations to fund the sustainable Hawaii workforce program.

     SECTION 2.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to title 12, subtitle 6, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

SUSTAINABLE HAWAII WORKFORCE PROGRAM

     §   -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter:

     "Chairperson" means chairperson of the board of land and natural resources.

     "Department" means the department of land and natural resources.

     §   -2  Sustainable Hawaii workforce program; established.

(a)  There is established within the department the sustainable Hawaii workforce program.  The sustainable Hawaii workforce program shall provide temporary job placement for Hawaii residents in need of employment.  The sustainable Hawaii workforce program shall, subject to guidance from the advisory committee:

     (1)  Assist in providing temporary job placement at state agencies and eligible non-profit organizations that support natural resource protection and management; and

     (2)  Support the goals of the Aloha+ Challenge as adopted in S.C.R. No. 69, regular session of 2014, by increasing local green jobs and education.

     §   -3  Sustainable Hawaii workforce advisory committee.  (a)  The chairperson shall create a sustainable Hawaii workforce advisory committee to oversee and advise the department in the development and administration of the sustainable Hawaii workforce program.  In addition to the chairperson, who shall serve as chair, the advisory committee shall include the following members:

     (1)  One representative of the Hawaii tourism authority;

     (2)  One representative of the department of labor and industrial relations;

     (3)  One representative of the department of human services;

     (4)  Two members appointed by the president of the senate; and

     (5)  Two members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

     (b)  The advisory committee shall:

     (1)  Track the sustainable Hawaii workforce program expenditures;

     (2)  Develop funding criteria for job placement within the departments and eligible non-profit organizations;

     (3)  Provide governance and transparency for job placement within the department and eligible non-profit organizations; and

     (4)  Develop an accountability framework.

     (c)  Advisory committee members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     §   -4  Sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund.

(a)  There is established in the treasury of the State the sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund, to be administered by the department.  The following moneys shall be deposited into the sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund:  

     (1)  Appropriations made by the legislature to the sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund; and

     (2)  All proceeds from the sustainable tourism tax levied under this chapter and designated for deposit into the sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund.

All interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited into the sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund shall become part of the fund.

     (b)  Moneys from the sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund shall be used to fund activities related to the administration of the sustainable Hawaii workforce program established under section    -2, including activities that:

     (1)  Create temporary job placement for Hawaii residents at state agencies and eligible nonprofits that support natural resource protection and management; and

     (2)  Contribute to meeting the goals of the Aloha+ Challenge as adopted in S.C.R. No. 69, regular session of 2014.

     §   -5  Annual report.  The department shall submit a report of its activities, expenditures, and results, including the progress of the sustainable Hawaii workforce program toward achieving the department's goals, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session."

     SECTION 3.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

sustainable tourism tax

     §   -1  Definitions.  All definitions in section 237D-1 shall be applicable to this chapter.

     §   -2  Imposition and rates.  (a)  There is levied and shall be assessed and collected as provided in this section on all gross proceeds and gross income taxable under this chapter, each month a sustainable tourism tax of 1.5 per cent for the period beginning on July 1, 2022 on the gross rental or gross rental proceeds derived from furnishing transient accommodations.

     (b)  Every transient accommodations broker, travel agency, and tour packager who arranges transient accommodations at noncommissioned negotiated contract rates and every operator shall pay to the State the tax imposed by subsection (a), as provided in this chapter.

     (c)  There is levied and shall be assessed and collected each month, on the occupant of a resort time share vacation unit, a sustainable tourism tax of 1.5 per cent on the fair market rental value for the period beginning on July 1, 2022, and thereafter.

     (d)  Every plan manager shall be liable for and pay to the State the sustainable tourism tax imposed by subsection (c) as provided in this chapter.  Every resort time share vacation plan shall be represented by a plan manager who shall be subject to this chapter.

     (e)  The tax revenues levied, assessed, and collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund established under section    -4."

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that:

     (1)  Section 3 of this Act shall apply to gross rental proceeds received beginning on July 1, 2022;

     (2)  The provision in section 2 of this Act establishing the sustainable Hawaii workforce program special fund shall take effect on July 1, 2022; and

     (3)  The remaining provisions in section 2 of this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Workforce Development; Sustainable Hawaii Workforce Program; Sustainable Hawaii Advisory Committee; Sustainable Hawaii Special Fund; Sustainable Tourism Tax; Aloha+ Challenge

 

Description:

Establishes a sustainable Hawaii workforce program, a sustainable Hawaii workforce advisory committee, and a sustainable Hawaii workforce special fund to meet the goals of the Aloha+ Challenge.  Imposes a new 1.5 per cent sustainable tourism tax beginning on 7/1/2022, to fund the sustainable Hawaii workforce program.  Special fund is effective on 7/1/2022.  Program and advisory committee take effect on 1/1/2023.

 

 

 

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