STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1158-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2406

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2406, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require contracts entered into by the Hawaii Tourism Authority for management of the Convention Center facility to include marketing for all uses of the facility; and

(2) Amend the reporting frequency for contracts and agreements entered into by the Authority.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau; Hawai‘i Hotel Alliance; MC&A, Inc.; and The Kahala Hotel & Resort. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.

Your Committee finds that existing law allows the Hawaii Tourism Authority to enter into separate contracts for the marketing of all uses of the Convention Center and for the management, use, operation, or maintenance of the Center. Your Committee believes that it would be more efficient and a better use of taxpayer dollars to consolidate contracts relating to the Hawaii Convention Center to ensure its proper management.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, 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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2406, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2406, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

SEAN QUINLAN, Chair