STAND. COM. REP. NO.  916

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1051

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1051, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENERGY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) is equipped with the necessary tools to satisfactorily perform its energy emergency preparedness functions by:

(1) Statutorily establishing the state energy emergency preparedness program's coverage of all forms of energy emergencies;

(2)  Detailing the types of information energy companies must submit to the State for energy emergency preparedness purposes;

(3)  Authorizing DBEDT to compile and analyze information, including confidential information, to effectuate the State's role and responsibilities in energy emergency planning and preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery; and

(4)  Requiring DBEDT to comply with confidentiality requirements for information obtained for energy emergency preparedness purposes.

     DBEDT and Department of Defense testified in support of this bill.  The Western States Petroleum Association opposed this measure.  The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, Ltd., Hawaii Electric Light Company, and Aloha Petroleum, Ltd., provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1051, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair