STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3465

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 101
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 101, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A
     STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF BIG BOX RETAILERS ON LOCAL SMALL AND
     MEDIUM RETAIL BUSINESSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to
study the effects of big box retailers on local small and medium
retail businesses.

     Your Committee finds that there have been allegations that
big box retailers, which typically offer low prices due to their
large volume, are siphoning customers away from small and medium
size local merchants who are not able to offer the same prices.
The State has a number of big box retailers and more are
expected.  To accurately predict their effect on local
businesses, the State needs solid economic data concerning the
impact to date by these large chains on smaller local retailers.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and
Tourism is particularly well suited to perform this analysis.
Not only does the department have a professional research and
economic analysis division, but the department is charged with

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3465
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performing economic research and making broad policy
determinations with respect to economic development in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 101,
S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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