STAND. COM. REP. NO.  471-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1944

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Tourism & International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1944 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allocate funds from the transient accommodations tax (TAT) revenues directly to the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), rather than through the Special Land and Development Fund, to be used to improve certain state facilities in accordance with HTA's strategic plan.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Kohala Coast Resort Association.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that given the continued growth of visitors to Hawaii, more investment is needed in Hawaii's natural resources and environment.  Allocating funds from TAT revenues directly to the HTA instead of through the Special Land and Development Fund would allow for more efficient improvement and maintenance of community infrastructure in accordance with HTA's statewide strategic plan while also providing greater scrutiny and accountability of TAT revenues.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by;

 

(1)    Changing the effective date to July 1, 2099, to encourage further discussion; and

 

(2)    Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism & International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1944, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1944, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism & International Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Chair