Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1890, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to statutorily establish a Hawaii sister-state committee to recommend sister-state or sister-province relationships for the Legislature's action.

The University of Hawaii and the Office of International Education at the University of Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that this measure increases the oversight of Hawaii's Sister State program by establishing a Sister State Committee to evaluate and develop recommendations for the initiation of all sister state or province relationships. This strengthens Hawaii's Sister State program and increases the program's benefits to our State.

Upon further consideration, your Committee amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1890, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1890, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.