STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2408

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2845

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Tourism and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2845 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to direct the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study to determine the most effective and efficient options for reorganizing the state agencies tasked with issues relating to energy and environmental protection.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Health; and Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.  Comments were submitted by the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and the Acting Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

     Your Committees find that the advancement of a comprehensive long‑term energy strategy depends on effectively coordinating the mandates and efforts of key state agencies.

     Your Committees further find that it is important to review the administration, responsibilities, and objectives of the key energy related state agencies to avoid redundancy and determine if there are any areas in the administration of long‑term energy strategy that need to be addressed.

     Your Committees have amended this measure to focus the study on reorganization of state agencies as their responsibilities relate to the State's long-term energy strategy.  Specifically, the study would:

     (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.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Tourism and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2845, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Tourism and Government Operations,

____________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair