CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 185

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    H.B. No. 1659

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1659, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROCUREMENT,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that funds solicited by government to cover the costs and expenses of a state-sponsored enterprise, including trips and other endeavors to generate business opportunities and goodwill for the State, are expended fairly and openly, and subject to competitive procedures, by providing that these funds must be deposited into the general fund, disbursed by legislative appropriation, and expended under the procurement code. 

     Your Committee on Conference understands that this bill targets trade show activities coordinated by state agencies where participants from the business community are responsible for offsetting part of the costs of booths, equipment, and other related expenses.  However, while the procedures required by this bill would increase transparency and accountability, they will also delay the ability of agencies to gain access to solicited funds.

To allow this valuable public-private marketing program to continue unabated, your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by inserting an appropriation of $50,000 as seed money for initial costs and expenses.  The effective date of this bill has also been changed to July 1, 2007.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1659, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1659, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair	____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Co-Chair
____________________________ SHAN S. TSUTSUI, Co-Chair	____________________________ MARILYN B. LEE, Co-Chair