CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 27

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    S.B. No. 1943

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1943, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY,"

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 measure is to:

     (1)  Add biofuel processing facilities to the list of permitted uses in an agricultural district; and

     (2)  Establish an energy feedstock program.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a paragraph in the findings and purpose section to emphasize that it is the intent of the Legislature that Hawaii-based production of energy feedstock shall become a significant portion of the total feedstock intake for Hawaii biofuels processing facilities;

     (2)  Adding crops for bioenergy to activities allowed in agricultural districts;

     (3)  Clarifying the description of biofuel processing facilities; and

     (4)  Establishing that, in addition to being exempt from civil service, the temporary staff authorized to be hired by the Department of Agriculture for the new energy feedstock program shall also be exempt from the State's public sector collective bargaining laws.

     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 S.B. No. 1943, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1943, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KEN ITO, Co-Chair	____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair
____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Co-Chair
____________________________ CLIFT TSUJI, Co-Chair	____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Co-Chair