Bill Text: HI HB2251 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Casino Gaming

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-24 - (H) The committee(s) recommends that the measure be deferred. [HB2251 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB2251-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  213-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2251

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2251 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GAMING,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to generate additional general fund revenue to ensure the delivery of critical services statewide by permitting gaming.  Specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes a gaming commission to oversee casino gaming;

 

     (2)  Allows the newly established gaming commission to issue one five-year license to a casino gaming operation in a county with a population of more than 500,000;

 

     (3)  Prohibits an individual from engaging in an act of gaming unless the individual is at least 21 years of age and is a non-resident of Hawaii or possesses a valid and fully paid round-trip ticket or other voucher for travel to a final destination outside of Hawaii; and

 

     (4)  Creates a wagering tax on casino gaming.

 

     Unity House, Inc.; Kanaka Council-Island of Hawaii; and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  Capitol Consultants of Hawaii, LLP, and the Libertarian Party of Honolulu supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals testified in opposition to this bill.

 

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Removing the non-resident and plane ticket or travel voucher restrictions on who may engage in gaming; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2251, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2251, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair		____________________________ JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Chair