Report Title:

International Cooperation; Economic Development

Description:

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to work with international agencies, universities, and organizations and promote Hawaii as a leader in the Pacific Basin in the exchange of information and development of renewable energy resources.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1888

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Today's globalized society presents abundant opportunities for information and technology exchange and research development and dissemination. Many international agencies, universities, and organizations already provide proven frameworks for international cooperation and information exchange. For example, the International Energy Agency is a forum for twenty-six industrialized countries that have agreed to share energy information, coordinate energy policies, and cooperate in the development of rational energy programs, such as the deployment of ocean energy technologies. It is clearly in the best interests of the people of Hawaii for this State to actively participate in these global networks. Hawaii is also uniquely situated to emerge as a leader in the Pacific basin in this regard.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of business, economic development, and tourism to: (1) work with international agencies, universities, and organizations and coordinate the State's involvement in national and international efforts to promote, investigate, and develop the use of renewable energy resources, including renewable ocean resources; and (2) promote the State as an active participant and leader in renewable energy development and research in the Pacific basin."

SECTION 2. Section 201-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§201-3 Specific research and promotional functions of the department. Without prejudice to its general functions and duties the department of business, economic development, and tourism shall have specific functions in the following areas:

(1) Industrial development. The department shall determine through technical and economic surveys the profit potential of new or expanded industrial undertakings; develop through research projects and other means new and improved industrial products and processes; promote studies and surveys to determine consumer preference as to design and quality and to determine the best methods of packaging, transporting, and marketing the State's industrial products; disseminate information to assist the present industries of the State, to attract new industries to the State, and to encourage capital investment in present and new industries in the State; assist associations of producers and distributors of industrial products to introduce such products to consumers; and make such grants or contracts as may be necessary or advisable to accomplish the foregoing;

(2) Land development. The department shall encourage the most productive use of all land in the State in accordance with a general plan developed by the department; encourage the improvement of land tenure practices on leased private lands; promote an informational program directed to landowners, producers of agricultural and industrial commodities, and the general public regarding the most efficient and most productive use of the lands in the State; and make such grants or contracts as may be necessary or advisable to accomplish the foregoing;

(3) Credit development. The department shall conduct a continuing study of agricultural and industrial credit needs; encourage the development of additional private and public credit sources for agricultural and industrial enterprises; promote an informational program to acquaint financial institutions with agricultural and industrial credit needs and the potential for agricultural and industrial expansion, and inform producers of agricultural and industrial products as to the manner in which to qualify for loans; and make such grants or contracts as may be necessary or advisable to accomplish the foregoing;

(4) Promotion. The department shall disseminate information developed for or by the department pertaining to economic development to assist present industry in the State, attract new industry and investments to the State, and assist new and emerging industry with good growth potential or prospects in jobs, exports, and new products. The industrial and economic promotional activities of the department may include the use of literature, advertising, demonstrations, displays, market testing, lectures, travel, motion picture and slide films, and such other promotional and publicity devices as may be appropriate; [and]

(5) Tourism research and statistics. The department shall maintain a program of research and statistics for the purpose of:

(A) Measuring and analyzing tourism trends;

(B) Providing information and research to assist in the development and implementation of state tourism policy;

(C) Encouraging and arranging for the conduct of tourism research and information development through voluntary means or through contractual services with qualified agencies, firms, or persons; and

(D) Providing tourism information to policy makers, the public, and the visitor industry. This includes:

(i) Collecting and publishing visitor-related data including visitor arrivals, visitor characteristics and expenditures;

(ii) Collecting and publishing hotel-related statistics including the number of units available, occupancy rates, and room rates;

(iii) Collecting and publishing airline-related data including seat capacity and number of flights;

(iv) Collecting information and conducting analyses of the economic, social, and physical impacts of tourism on the State;

(v) Conducting periodic studies of the impact of ongoing marketing programs of the Hawaii tourism authority on Hawaii's tourism industry, employment in Hawaii, state taxes, and the State's lesser known and underutilized destinations; and

(vi) Cooperate with the Hawaii tourism authority and provide it with the above information in a timely manner[.]; and

(6) Renewable energy development. The department shall:

(A) Work with the global community, including international agencies, universities, and organizations, to initiate, develop, and exchange research and technology on renewable energy resources, including renewable ocean resources;

(B) Coordinate the State's involvement in national and international efforts to promote, investigate, and develop the use of renewable energy resources, including renewable ocean resources, in the Pacific basin; and

(C) Promote the State as an active participant and leader in renewable energy development and research in the Pacific basin.

The department shall be the central agency to coordinate film permit activities in the State."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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