STAND. COM. REP. NO.  427

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 444

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 444, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BEACH PROTECTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to conserve and restore Hawaii's beaches by expanding the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Beach Restoration Plans to include beach conservation, and allocating funds from the Transient Accommodations Tax to be used in accordance with the Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan and for beach restoration and conservation.

 

     The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, Outrigger Enterprises Group, Maui Hotel and Lodging Association, and Hawaii Shore and Beach Preservation Association supported this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General opposed this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, State-County Functions Working Group, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments.

 

     Your Committee respectfully notes that the Attorney General suggested the removal of the proposed amendment to section 237D-6.5(b)(5), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to comply with the Hawaii State Constitution requirement that a measure embrace one subject expressed in its title.  Although your Committee acknowledges this concern, your Committee recommends that this measure proceed through the legislative process to facilitate further discussion.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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 H.B. No. 444, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 444, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TOM BROWER, Chair