STAND. COM. REP. NO.  985

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 30

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 30, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's interests in international trade agreements by:

(1)  Establishing a joint legislative committee to consider international trade agreements (Joint Committee); and

(2)  Prohibiting the Governor from entering into any trade agreement without approval of:

(A)  The Legislature, through concurrent resolution adopted by a majority vote of the Senate and House of Representatives; or

(B)  The Joint Committee, when the Legislature is not in session.

     The Hawaii Government Employees Association and ILWU Local 142 supported this bill.  The Hawaii State AFL-CIO supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the provisions of H.B. No. 30, as introduced.  As amended, this measure, among other things:

(1)  Requires legislative consent prior to binding the State to an international trade agreement;

(2)  Creates legislative points of contact to serve as liaisons between the Legislature, the Governor, and the federal government on trade-related matters;

(3)  Establishes the Office of Trade Enforcement to, among other things, monitor, analyze, and assess trade; and

(4)  Establishes the Citizens' Commission on Globalization to, among other things, make policy recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation, and the United States trade negotiators.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 30, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 30, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair