STAND. COM. REP. NO.  505-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1945

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Tourism & International Affairs and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1945 entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allocate transient accommodation tax revenues into the Tourism Special Fund and appropriate funds from the Tourism Special Fund for the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA) to address homelessness in tourist and resort areas.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association; Police Department of the Honolulu City & County Outreach Unit; Institute for Human Services; Aloha Harvest; Aloha Medical Mission; Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Community Alliance Partners, the Hawaii Island CoC for Homelessness; Habitat for Humanity Maui; Kohala Coast Resort Association; Kauai Independent Food Bank; Friends of the Children's Justice Center of East Hawaii; Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, Inc.; Hoola Na Pua; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation; Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center; Family Promise of Hawaii; Hawaii Food Bank; Friends of the Children's Justice Center of Oahu; HOPE Services Hawaii, Inc.; Project Vision Hawaii; The Salvation Army; Hale Kau Kau, Adult Friends for Youth; Corvette Center Ministries; HOPE Services Hawaii; Hale Kipa, Inc.; Keiki Cupboard; Honolulu Habitat for Humanity; Partners in Development Foundation; and six individuals.  Your Committees have received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees find that homelessness is a major issue in Hawaii that impacts the visitor industry and residents.  The collaborative effort between HTA and HLTA would allow the private and public sectors to leverage funding that will help address homelessness in tourist and resort areas, thereby creating more positive experiences for visitors and residents.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the allocation of transient accommodations tax revenues to the Tourism Special Fund for purposes of this measure and the appropriation to HTA to unspecified sums; and

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2099, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As this measure progresses through the legislative process, your Committees recommend that $1,500,000 be allocated from transient accommodations tax revenues to the Tourism Special Fund and $1,500,000 be appropriated out of the Tourism Special Fund to allow HTA, in conjunction with HLTA, to address homelessness in tourist and resort areas.

 

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism & International Affairs and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1945, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1945, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism & International Affairs and Human Services & Homelessness,

 

 

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

 

____________________________

RICHARD H.K. ONISHI, Chair