Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Business and Economic Development, to which was referred S.B. No. 2864 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for one board and commission administrative assistant position with the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide administrative support to the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Office of Economic Development, County of Maui; and the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

In 1998, the Small Business Regulatory Review Board was created and charged with the responsibility of reviewing any rule adopted by a state agency at the request of a small business owner and of recommending to a state agency or the legislature changes rule or statutes. Currently the Small Business Regulatory Board has insufficient staff resources and technical expertise to provide all the required support to accomplish these objectives. Your Committee finds that appropriating funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for a board and commission administrative assistant will enable the Small Business Regulatory Review Board to continue to perform its important mission with the dedicated support staff that is necessary for its success.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Business and Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2864 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.