STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1073-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2845

      S.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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 2, 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 direct the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) to conduct a study to recommend the most effective and efficient options for reorganizing the state agencies that are integral to successfully achieving state energy objectives and advancing the State's long-term energy strategy, and appropriates funds for this purpose.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, LRB, and the State Procurement Office provided comments.

     Concerns were raised that this study may be premature given the efforts of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative and four working groups recently created to address various energy issues.  However, your Committee believes this measure should be kept alive to ensure a vehicle is available if necessary to address or clarify agencies' roles and responsibilities identified by the working groups, if timely recommendations are made. 

     Further, the Chair of your Committee will be meeting with representatives from the National Conference of State Legislatures who may be willing to assist the Legislature in the study outlined in this measure.  It is unknown at this time if a vehicle will be necessary for this partnership.

     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 S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Legislative Management.

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

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair