STAND. COM. REP. NO.  64

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1684

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1684 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL LIAISON FOR THE LEGISLATURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to support international relations by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a position within the Office of International Affairs (OIA) of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT)to serve as a liaison for the Legislature to assist with visits by foreign delegations;

 

     (2)  Requiring legislative direction for projects undertaken by the liaison; and

 

     (3)  Appropriating funds for the position.

 

     Hawaii Fukuoka Kenjinkai and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  DBEDT supported the intent of this measure.


 

     A concern was raised that legislative oversight of the projects undertaken by the liaison may be a constitutional concern because of the separation of powers issue between the Legislature and an executive agency.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Removing the provision requiring the Legislature to provide direction for projects undertaken by the liaison;

 

     (2)  Clarifying the purposes of the OIA; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1684, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1684, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Legislative Management.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair