STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 104

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 34

H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 34 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to work with international agencies to foster and initiate coordination, cooperation, and technology and research exchange with other countries.

Hydraulics and Maritime Research Center at University College Cork, Ireland, and a concerned citizen supported this bill.

DBEDT and the East-West Center supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee believes that international exchanges represent a potential source for economic and scientific growth for Hawaii. Your Committee further notes that the development of renewable energies, such as wave energies, offers significant opportunities for Hawaii in particular.

In light of these factors, your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that DBEDT foster and initiate international coordination, cooperation, and technology and research exchange on renewable energies, including wave energy. In addition, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Including international universities and organizations, and deleting the reference to the International Energy Agency, in the list of entities that DBEDT is required to work with in fostering international cooperation and exchange;

(2) Revising the purpose section of the bill to conform to the provisions of the bill as amended; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 34, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 34, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs,

		____________________________ HELÉNE H. HALE, Chair