CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 80

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2009

RE:    S.B. No. 19

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 19, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROCUREMENT,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to provide a procurement preference to a contractor in a public works construction contract of not less than $250,000 if the contractor is a party to an apprenticeship agreement registered with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations at the time of general bidding.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the economic downturn currently being faced across the nation, including in Hawaii, has resulted in both state and federal governments looking to public works projects as a near term means of stimulating the economy.  As public works are expected to play a large role in immediate, as well as longer term, economic recovery efforts, it will be essential for the state to have a well-trained workforce skilled in the various construction trades.  As many of these individuals gain their best knowledge of a particular trade through apprenticeship programs, providing incentives for contractors to offer and maintain these programs will work toward developing the necessary skilled workforce to carry on public works projects for years to come.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by correcting statutory cross-references to the appropriate section in chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 19, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 19, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Co-Chair	____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair
____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Co-Chair