STAND. COM. REP. NO.  689-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2040

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2040 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII'S ECONOMY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to authorize and appropriate funds for an independent study and analysis of Hawaii's economy, including recommendations for public policy changes to begin to address the cost-of-living, affordability, and quality-of-life issues that the residents of Hawaii face.

     The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2040 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair