STAND. COM. REP. NO.1506

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.C.R. No. 76

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 76 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR AND STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO RECOGNIZE THE CONCERNS ADDRESSED IN THE SMALL BUSINESS BILL OF RIGHTS AND TO TAKE STEPS TO CREATE A MORE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recognize the small business bill of rights as described in the measure and to take steps to create a more business-friendly environment for small businesses.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, National Federation of Independent Business, and Hawaii Business League. Oral testimony opposing this measure was received from one individual.

Your Committee finds that small businesses in Hawaii comprise ninety-seven per cent of businesses in the State and are the primary contributors to the economy, generators of new jobs, and innovators in industry. Therefore, the State must make every effort to eliminate obstacles to the success of Hawaii's small businesses. Key to that mission is the identification and recognition of the primary and essential rights of every small business in the State. Although this measure attempts to outline the specific rights of every small business in Hawaii, your Committee finds that further development and consensus is necessary. Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by recasting its title, purpose, and directives to:

(1) Request the Governor to direct the Hawaii Small Business Regulatory Review Board to develop and formulate a "Small Business Bill of Rights" as an official declaration of the expectations of small businesses when dealing with state government;

(2) Request the Governor to direct state departments and agencies to identify appropriate operational changes to make their respective agency sensitive to the concerns of small businesses; and

(3) Request the Small Business Regulatory Review Board to submit the "Small Business Bill of Rights" to the 2004 Legislature.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 76, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 76, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair