STAND. COM. REP. NO.  314

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   H.B. No. 521

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 521 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to stimulate and diversify Hawaii's economy by establishing and funding the High-growth Grant Program and Special Fund to provide grants to qualified businesses to expand business operations, improve business productivity, and invest in food safety or quality control programs.

 

     Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, The High Technology Development Corporation, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Envisions Entertainment, Maui Brewing Company, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Kauai Island Brewing Company, and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 testified in support of this measure.  Americans for Democratic Action testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2038, to facilitate further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 521, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 521, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair