STAND. COM. REP. NO. 573

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 717

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Business and Economic Development and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 717 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BUSINESS ACTION CENTER,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to transfer the Business Action Center from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and the Hawaii Association of Realtors.

Your Committees find that the Business Action Center was begun as a pilot project by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to facilitate the licensing and registration process for small businesses. Your Committees believe that the Business Action Center's functions and mission are more closely aligned with those of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The Business Action Center fits in with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' mission as it complements and directly expands the services that the Business Registration Division of the department provides to its customers. The Business Action Center is already a participant in the Hawaii Business Express, the State's one-stop portal for starting a new business and it currently uses many of the department's forms.

Your Committees believe that transferring the Business Action Center from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will provide opportunities for the Business Action Center to develop beyond a pilot project and expand to additional locations across the state to better serve the State's small business community.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Business and Economic Development and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 717 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Business and Economic Development and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing,

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RON MENOR, Chair

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WILL ESPERO, Chair