STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3207

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2253

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FUNDING FOR FILM AND DIGITAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand funding sources to support the Hawaii Film Studio, the Hawaii Film Office, and film and digital media industry development programs and initiatives within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

     The measure also:

     (1)  Repeals the Hawaii Television and Film Development Board;

     (2)  Establishes a creative film and media park; and

     (3)  Appropriates an unspecified sum for the establishment of a creative film and media park.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and the University of Hawaii at West Oahu.  Written comments in opposition were received from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.  The High Technology Development Corporation submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's film industry generates an estimated $250,000,000 in production revenues per year, providing the State with an estimated economic impact of more than $400,000,000 annually.  Your Committee believes that this measure will provide a necessary funding mechanism for the ongoing repair and maintenance of the Hawaii Film Studio.  Your Committee also believes that establishing a creative film and digital media park will facilitate economic growth of the creative film and digital media industry by locating film and digital media entities in a designated geographic hub.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing references to "media" in part II of the measure to "digital media"; and

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

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2253, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair