S.B. 2224 Summary

• Renames the "convention center enterprise special fund" to "convention center operations and maintenance special fund" and eliminates transient accommodations tax (TAT) revenues as a funding source for the fund, capping deposits at $6,000,000 annually with excess revenues going to the general fund.

• Redefines allowable uses of the convention center fund to include salaries for convention center personnel and removes debt service payments to the department of budget and finance as an authorized expense.

• Redistributes TAT revenues from $82,000,000 to $60,300,000 for the Hawaii Tourism Authority's tourism special fund, with new allocations to the Department of Education ($3,500,000), University of Hawaii ($7,891,000), Department of Land and Natural Resources ($9,608,554), and other state agencies for education, athletics, and environmental protection programs.

• Caps tourism special fund administrative expenses at $2,800,000, marketing expenses at $49,200,000, research expenses at $2,500,000, and sports marketing expenses at $5,800,000, and defines "administrative expenses" as office equipment, salaries, and supplies.

• Effective July 1, 2018.