Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development and Technology and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2412 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to expand the Economic Development Program of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Testimony in support of the measure was received from the Small Business Development Center at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Your Committees find that the measure will provide funds to the Small Business Development Center to expand its staff of management consultants by ten and its support staff by six. All but four positions will be situated on Oahu, which is the most severely underserved area of the State. Two positions will be situated at the island of Hawaii Small Business Development Center's Rural Development Center to assist in the diversification of agricultural enterprises statewide. Three positions will be utilized to establish a High Technology Center.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Technology and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2412 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.