STAND. COM. REP. NO.  312

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 34

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

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 THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to voice Hawaii's opposition to the humanitarian crisis presently occurring in the Darfur Region of Sudan by prohibiting the Employees' Retirement System from investing in securities of companies that have active business operations with Sudan.

     The Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Coalition for Darfur, Americans for Democratic Action, Interfaith Alliance Hawaii, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Employees' Retirement System offered comments.

     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 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair