STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO.1327

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1579

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1579, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the authority and duties of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to diversify the State's economy.

In particular, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department to develop and implement plans, including a long-range plan for economic diversification in the State, as well as programs and initiatives to facilitate the diversification of the State's economy to stimulate and encourage economic development in Hawaii;

(2) Enumerates specific duties to be undertaken by the Department;

(3) Provides that the Department may actively consult and collaborate with the various agencies attached to it, other state agencies, the University of Hawaii, representatives of the various services of the United States Armed Forces, and private sector industry representatives and potential partners; and

(4) Requires the Department to report annually on activities and proposed legislation implementing the economic diversification plan to the Governor and Legislature.

Your Committee finds that clarifying the authority and responsibilities of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to diversify the State's economy will help to promote greater economic development in Hawaii.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the first sentence of section 3, since no statutory material is deleted in the bill; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3003 in order to promote continuing discussion on this measure.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1579, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1579, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

		____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair