STAND. COM. REP. NO.  892-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2506

      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. 2506, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REORGANIZATION OF STATE AGENCIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the advancement of a comprehensive long‑term energy strategy through the effective coordination of the mandates and efforts of key state agencies by directing the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) to:

     (1)  Identify the statutory responsibilities of state agencies that are integral to successfully achieving state energy objectives;

     (2)  Identify any duplication or deficiency in these state agencies' responsibilities relating to state energy objectives;

     (3)  Research how other states address similar deficiencies in the administration of their energy policies; and

     (4)  Make recommendations regarding how the state agencies can be reorganized to advance the long‑term energy strategy.

     This bill further provides LRB with an appropriation of $75,000 to carry out the study as well as an exemption from the State Procurement Code for the issuance of any contracts necessary to facilitate the study.

     The Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance supported this bill.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism opposed this measure.  LRB, the Department of Agriculture, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, and Life of the Land submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Replacing the appropriation with an unspecified amount;

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes 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. 2506, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2506, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair