STAND. COM. REP. NO.  350-10

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2759

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2759, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GAMING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) to allow gaming on Hawaiian Home Lands.  Specifically, this bill:

 

     (1)  Requires HHC to designate specific parcels upon which gaming is allowed;

 

     (2)  Establishes a Hawaiian Gaming Commission to regulate casino gaming operations;

 

     (3)  Establishes a wagering tax on casino gaming operations, in lieu of all other state taxes, except for income taxes; and

 

     (4)  Allocates 20 percent of the wagering taxes to the general fund and 80 percent to the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Fund.

 

     Kanaka Council Moku o Keawe, Hawaiian Political Action Council of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  HHC, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Honolulu Police Department, Ohana Council, PHOCUSED, Christian Voice of Hawaii, and numerous concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders' Association, Inc., and several concerned individuals offered comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Requiring HHC to consult with the beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to determine the appropriateness of a prospective gaming site; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2759, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2759, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

		____________________________ JON RIKI KARAMATSU, Chair