STAND. COM. REP. NO.  329

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 180

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 180 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist small businesses through management-force training by appropriating funds to the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network (HSBDCN) to:

     (1)  Fill the position of an associate state director;

     (2)  Re-establish a consulting and training program in              Kailua-Kona that will bring HSBDCN into compliance with       the requirements of the United States Small Business               Administration;

     (3)  Fill a position at the Hawaii Business Research Library        and at the Honolulu Center, and to create an additional        position at the Honolulu Center; and

     (4)  Restore funds lost to indirect fees.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, HSBDCN, Tanimoto Gallery & Framing LLC, Honolulu Culture & Arts District Association, IN DIS LIFE, and a multitude of concerned individuals and entities testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that funding the initiatives included in this      bill would generate an annual economic impact of                   approximately $29,000,000, rather than $29,000;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation amounts for the three                   positions, to re-establish a consulting and training               program, and to restore funds lost to indirect fees, to       a total of $4 to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,      consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Economic Development & Business Concerns that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 180, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 180, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Economic Development & Business Concerns,

____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair

____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair