CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 121

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    S.B. No. 709

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 1

       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. 709, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

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)  Require the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to investigate, collect, analyze, and publish research and data to track economic progress and aid in the development and economic health of growth industries; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the purposes of the Act.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the appropriation is for additional resources, including two permanent full-time equivalent economist positions in the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to improve the State's ability to measure the productivity of and progress toward achieving innovation in Hawaii's economy, and to assess the effectiveness of measures enacted by the legislature to improve Hawaii's economic situation;

     (2)  Appropriating $150,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2008-2009; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date from July 1, 2034, 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 S.B. No. 709, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 709, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Co-Chair	____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair
____________________________ PONO CHONG, Co-Chair	____________________________ SHAN S. TSUTSUI, Co-Chair