STAND. COM. REP. NO.  73-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2020

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 2020 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 appropriate funds to the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network to further its mission to create sustainable economic development through counseling, training, and research services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

     The University of Hawaii and National Federation of Independent Businesses-Hawaii 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)  Changing all appropriation amounts to $1;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020 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. 2020, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2020, 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