STAND. COM. REP. NO.  633-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2210

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 2210 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF PLANNING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds to the Office of Planning to conduct a study of the business climate in the State and submit a report to the Legislature.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Maui Chamber of Commerce.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning.

 

     Your Committee finds that the study proposed by this measure will consider issues specifically tied to running a business in Hawaii and provide an accurate sense of challenges and opportunities that can lead to economic growth.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing language permitting the Office of Planning to contract the service of public or private entities to conduct the study;

 

     (2)  Changing the deadline for the Office of Planning to submit its report to the Legislature to twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2022; and

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

 

     Your Committee believes this measure is crucial for the Legislature to really identify the areas that need to be addressed in order to truly transform the business climate in Hawaii.

 

     Should your Committee on Finance decide to hear this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $600,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) exempt Planner V position for the Office of Planning, whose duties shall include conducting the study proposed by this measure.

 

     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. 2210, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2210, 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,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair