Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 2751 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to expand Hawaii's business industry by creating a Business Retention and Expansion Program (Program) within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). The Program would be charged with the task of:

The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network testified in support of this bill. DBEDT supported the intent of this measure.

DBEDT currently has existing programs that attempt to retain and expand businesses in the state and to avoid duplication of services, your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Finance to review the possibility of retaining and expanding businesses administratively.

Your Committee did not take action on determining a sum to appropriate for the Program as DBEDT is in the process of determining an amount and will notify the appropriate committees.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2751 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.