STAND. COM. REP. NO. 666

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 133
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which
was referred H.B. No. 133 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE SMALL
     BUSINESS DEFENDER POSITION AND OTHER SUPPORT PERSONNEL
     ESTABLISHED UNDER ACT 168, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 1998,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for the
small business defender position and other support personnel.

     Your Committee finds that the small business defender
position was established by section 3 of Act 168, Session Laws of
Hawaii 1998, which also established the Hawaii Small Business
Regulatory Flexibility Act.  However, the position of the small
business defender has never been funded.  The role of the small
business defender is to:  represent, defend, or provide legal
representation to small businesses in any proceeding involving a
civil citation issued by a state or county agency, provided the
fines or penalties involved do not exceed $25,000; advocate or
negotiate on matters relating to and promoting the interests of
small business; conduct investigations to secure information
useful in fulfilling its purposes; and refer matters to the
Auditor or the Ombudsman, as appropriate.  Your Committee further
finds that it is critical to provide such assistance to small
businesses through the position of the small business defender.


 
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                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 666
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     Your Committee notes that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs,
the National Federation of Independent Business Hawaii, and the
Hawaii Business League submitted testimony in support of the
measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and
Tourism submitted testimony in support of the intent of the
measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 133 and recommends that it be referred to the
Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Consumer
                                   Protection and Commerce,



                                   ______________________________
                                   RON MENOR, Chair

 
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