Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Business and Economic Development, to which was referred S.B. No. 987 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network to advance its work of helping small businesses grow through management-force training.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network. Comments were also submitted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network provides consulting services and training to more than two thousand businesses annually, and has been serving Hawaii's small businesses since 1990. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network receives moneys through federal matching funds and partnership programs, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and other federal, state, and private sector sponsors and partners as well as through state appropriations. Your Committee believes that this measure will generate significant economic impact and will continue to promote and support small businesses in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, non-substantive amendments for the purposes of style and clarity.

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. 987, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 987, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.