STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1324

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 312

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred H.B. No. 312, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the Hawaii Community-Based Economic Development Technical and Financial Assistance Program (Program).

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Office of Planning; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Maui Office of Economic Development; Kauai Office of Economic Development; Kauai Community College; National Kidney Foundation; Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development; Hawaii Small Business Development Center; Garden Island Resource Conservation & Development, Inc.; Kauai Planning & Action Alliance, Inc.; The Arc of Kauai; Empower Oahu; Waianae Coast Coalition; Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative; and three individuals. 

 

     Your Committee finds that the business community, nonprofit organizations, and other entrepreneurs require a functional, service-oriented agency that is readily available to provide business counseling, financial backing, and general support to foster real community-based economic development of the various products and services demonstrating and embracing Hawaii's diversified economy.  The Program was established for this purpose by Act 111, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 1990, codified as chapter 210D, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), which states in part in section 210D-1, HRS, that "[i]t is in the best interest of the State to bring about a diversification of opportunities in all aspects of life for the residents and communities of the State.  Community-based enterprises play an important part in providing a diversification of opportunities for Hawaii's residents and communities."

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure is in keeping with the State's stated commitment under Act 211, SLH 1990.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to continue the discussion in its merits.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Taxation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 312, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 312, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair