STAND. COM. REP. NO. 467

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1367

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred S.B. No. 1367 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to add duties to the Office of International Affairs (Office) to facilitate international educational program links and to expand the scope of its functions to foster Hawaii's worldwide presence.

     This measure also appropriates funds for the Office to hire an executive director and administrative assistant, and for program operation and expenses. 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Education; University of Hawaii System; East-West Center; Center for Chinese Studies; Hawaii English Language Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; International & Exchange Programs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; Japan-America Society of Hawaii; Center for Global Education and Exchange at the University of Hawaii at Hilo; Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs; Papa Ola Lokahi; Pacific and Asian Affairs Council; Hawaii Global Youth Center; Ambient Micro, LLC; Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii; and United Nations Association of the United States of America Hawaii Division.

     Your Committees find that in order to advance Hawaii's global competitiveness through education, there needs to be coordination between the State, counties, and educational institutions, as well as private agencies engaged in international affairs.  This measure would designate the Office as the central point for accountability serving as a portal of information and to leverage resources.

     Realization of Hawaii's longstanding desire for economic diversification and sustainability turns on applying the State's high skilled resources to the creation and adoption of innovation across the economy. 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.  Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made for purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Economic Development and Taxation that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1367, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1367, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Economic Development and Taxation,

____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair