Report Title:

Tourism Diversification and Economic Development Committee

Description:

Establishes the tourism diversification and economic development committee to review and prioritize existing tourism diversification and economic development initiatives and facilitate the implementation of initiatives deemed most promising.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2572

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to tourism and Economic Development.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a number of programs and initiatives intended to diversify tourism and stimulate economic development currently exist in various state departments or agencies. These initiatives include television, film, and digital media development efforts, high technology development and support, venture capital programs, research and development industry promotion programs, health tourism, and cultural and sustainable tourism initiatives. Despite the wide variety of efforts, it appears that a centralized focus would bring unity and cohesion to the State's numerous current initiatives intended to improve our tourism industry and the stimulate the State's economy.

The purpose of this Act is to create a tourism diversification and economic development committee, comprised of public and private sector members, to review and prioritize existing tourism and economic development initiatives, and assist in the implementation of the various initiatives that the committee deems the most promising.

SECTION 2. (a) There is created a tourism diversification and economic development committee to be administratively attached to the Hawaii tourism authority. The purpose of the committee is to diversify tourism and stimulate economic development by supporting local business and encouraging new business ventures. The committee shall:

(1) Review tourism diversification and economic development programs and initiatives that state departments or agencies or the University of Hawaii are currently undertaking or are directed to implement;

(2) Evaluate the status and success of existing and proposed tourism diversification and economic development programs and initiatives;

(3) Determine the most promising initiatives in each area, for example, in health tourism, cultural tourism, high technology development, venture capital programs; and

(4) Facilitate the prompt implementation of the programs and initiatives deemed most promising by the committee by providing support in the form of grants or other assistance as practicable.

(b) The members of the tourism diversification and economic development committee shall be comprised of representatives of any of the following agencies and entities desiring to participate:

(1) Hawaii tourism authority;

(2) Hawaii television and film development board;

(3) High technology development corporation;

(4) Venture capital information center;

(5) Research and development industry promotion program;

(6) National energy laboratory of Hawaii authority;

(7) University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine;

(8) University of Hawaii school of nursing and dental hygiene;

(9) University of Hawaii school of travel industry management;

(10) Department of taxation;

(11) Department of agriculture;

(12) Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau;

(13) Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii;

(14) Small Business Hawaii;

(15) Hawaii Hotel Association;

(16) Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

(17) Other members representative of public unions, private unions, business educators, high technology businesses, marketing and advertising professionals, tourism, environmental, or cultural organizations who wish to participate or who are deemed necessary or desirable to enable the committee to achieve its goals.

(c) Each member of the committee shall pay the sum of $        , to be deposited into the tourism special fund established in section 201B-11. Moneys deposited into the tourism special fund pursuant to this section shall be used by the tourism diversification and economic development committee for the purposes of this Act, and for purposes of section 201B-11 shall be deemed to be expenditures of the Hawaii tourism authority.

(d) The tourism diversification and economic development committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2005.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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