Bill Text: HI SB2224 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Tourism.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-08 - Referred to TOU, FIN, referral sheet 35 [SB2224 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-SB2224-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2224 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to tourism.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and every year millions of tourists visit the State to swim in the warm ocean water and enjoy recreational activities along the shoreline. While beaches can provide safe opportunities to recreate, there are risks inherent in any outdoor activity, and these risks are heightened among inexperienced swimmers and visitors with limited ocean safety knowledge.
According to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser article posted on September 15, 2017, there were a total of seventy-one ocean drownings statewide in 2016 with forty-three of those victims being visitors. As of September 2017, there have been a reported seventeen drownings on Maui, fourteen on Oahu, six on Kauai, and five on Hawaii island. Furthermore, social media has increased the popularity of remote or secluded beaches and other shoreline areas that do not have a lifeguard on duty, and thereby has increased the safety risks for those who are unfamiliar with ocean safety measures.
Therefore, it is important that precautionary measures are implemented to ensure tourists have a safe stay while visiting Hawaii. In an effort to help prevent drownings among Hawaii's visitors, twenty-five thousand hotel rooms on Oahu air twenty-five-second public service announcements on Real Hawaii TV. These four videos feature various scenarios and catchy tips, such as "[w]hen in doubt, don't go out" and "[s]norkel with a buddy". However, additional precautionary measures can be implemented to help ensure a safe and enjoyable visit to Hawaii.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Require all hotelkeepers to post in each hotel room occupied by a hotel guest an ocean safety information sheet developed by the Hawaii tourism authority no later than January 1, 2019; and
(2) Require the Hawaii tourism authority to develop an ocean safety information sheet to be posted in each hotel room.
SECTION 2. Chapter 486K, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§486K- Ocean safety information sheet. No later than January 1, 2019, hotelkeepers shall prominently post an ocean safety information sheet developed by the Hawaii tourism authority in a conspicuous area of each room of the hotel occupied by a guest."
SECTION 3. (a) The Hawaii tourism authority shall collaborate with stakeholders from appropriate government agencies and private entities to develop an ocean safety information sheet for the purpose of posting in every hotel room that is occupied by a hotel guest.
(b) The ocean safety information sheet shall:
(1) Contain information regarding ocean safety, such as sun protection, ocean conditions, hazard signs, lifeguard services, ocean animals, and other ocean-related safety tips;
(2) Be printed on a sheet of paper no less than eight and one-half by eleven inches in size using no less than fourteen point type;
(3) Be available in languages other than English for the purpose of distributing to non-English language readers; and
(4) Include any other information that the Hawaii tourism authority deems necessary to educate Hawaii visitors regarding ocean safety and ensure visitor safety.
(c) The Hawaii tourism authority shall complete the ocean safety information sheet no later than November 1, 2018, for distribution to all hotels.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Hotels; Ocean Safety Information Sheet; Hawaii Tourism Authority
Description:
Requires all hotelkeepers to post in each hotel room occupied by a hotel guest an ocean safety information sheet developed by the Hawaii Tourism Authority no later than January 1, 2019. Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to develop an ocean safety information sheet to be posted in each hotel room.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
