STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1295

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 155

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 155, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A POWERBALL STATE LOTTERY, MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY, OR BOTH, IN THE STATE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, with the assistance of the Legislative Reference Bureau, conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing a Powerball state lottery, Mega Millions lottery, or both, in the State.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from Charlotte Carter-Yamauchi, Acting Director, Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is presently suffering from a severe economic downturn resulting in drastically declining revenues, particularly in light of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan and its projected effects on tourism.  Alternative means of generating revenue, in addition to taxes, should be considered to address the current economic crisis.  Accordingly, your Committee further finds that a study on the feasibility of implementing a state lottery is appropriate.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the Legislative Reference Bureau's role under this measure is to assist the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism in the drafting of proposed legislation.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 155, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 155, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair