STAND. COM. REP. NO.  360-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2736

      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 Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 2736 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS BILL OF RIGHTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to support small business in Hawaii by establishing the Small Business Bill of Rights.

 

     The Small Business Regulatory Review Board, National Federation of Independent Business Hawaii, Hawaii Business League, and Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism supported the intent of the measure.  The Office of Ombudsman (Ombudsman) submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Ombudsman raised concerns about the confidentiality of certain information that might be requested and the fact that the Small Business Bill of Rights would give unfair preference to a particular group by prioritizing a certain category of complaints regarding government.

 

     After careful consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2034, 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 Economic Development & Business Concerns that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2736, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2736, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair