STAND. COM. REP. NO.  799-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2228

      H.D. 2

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. 2228, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support community-based businesses and organizations by appropriating funds to the Hawaii Community-based Economic Development Revolving Fund for low-interest loans and grants to qualifying community-based organizations involved in economic development activities under the Hawaii Community-based Economic Development Technical and Financial Assistance Program.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, Waianae Coast Coalition, Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative, Hawaiian Homestead Technology, Inc., and Empower Oahu testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts to encourage further discussion; and

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

     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. 2228, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2228, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair