STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2821

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2845

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study to identify and evaluate options for reorganizing the state agencies that are identified as integral to achieving the State's energy objectives.

     Specifically, this measure directs the Legislative Reference Bureau 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 measure also appropriates $75,000 to the Legislative Reference Bureau to contract for the study.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority.  The Department of Agriculture submitted testimony in opposition.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriated amount to an unspecified amount for purposes of further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2845, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair