STAND. COM. REP. NO.  256-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3069

      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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 3069 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the State Energy Resources Coordinator to develop and maintain a comprehensive and systematic procedure to analyze the status of energy resources, systems, and markets for state energy policy and planning purposes.

     The measure also:

(1)  Updates definitions related to biofuels and alternate energy fuels and the proliferation of new categories and specifications of petroleum fuels;

     (2)  Addresses the increase in the variety of fuels and fuel production imported into the State and fuel infrastructure requirements;

     (3)  Establishes policy guidance with respect to energy data analyses and the State's energy program and delineates roles and responsibilities of state agencies conducting energy data functions; and

     (4)  Provides statutory support for the energy resources coordinator.

     Your Committee received testimony in strong support of the measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.  The Office of Information Practices offered comments on the measure.

     Your Committee has amended that measure by:

     (1)  Changing the term "director" to "coordinator" where appropriate for purposes of consistency with chapter 196, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (2)  Removing unnecessary prefatory language from proposed sections on pages 6 and 9 of the measure;

     (3)  Correcting the prefatory reference to section 196-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in section 4, on page 15 of the measure;

     (4)  Removing the proposed amendment to the definition of "coordinator" and the proposed definition of "director" since both terms are defined under sections 196-2 and 196-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, respectively;

     (5)  Adopting recommendations made by the Office of Information Practices to clarify applicable provisions related to agency confidentiality; and

     (6)  Making technical amendments for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3069, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3069, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair