STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1052

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 134

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 134 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A WORKING GROUP TO INVESTIGATE THE CREATION OF A LOCALLY-FOCUSED, HAWAII-BASED STOCK EXCHANGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that a working group be convened to investigate the creation of a locally-focused, Hawaii-based stock exchange.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Maui Venture Consulting, LLC; Archinoetics; Commonwealth Group, Inc.; Hawaii Venture Capital Association; and five private individuals.

     Your Committee finds that there are substantial funds held by persons in this State that may be available to support and sustain capital investment for competent enterprises operating in a wide-array of industries.  However, your Committee also finds that potential investors and enterprises have difficulty finding each other and establishing sufficient trust to enable meaningful investment relationships.  Your Committee further finds that a locally based stock exchange would create a regulatory system that promotes local investment in local businesses by establishing standards for investors and listed enterprises to ensure transparency and foster confidence in the investment process.

Your Committee finds that a working group to investigate this issue is appropriate because the local exchange proposed for investigation by this measure is an innovative concept that involves the participation of a diverse group of actors with varied interests, including private enterprises, investors, and state and federal government regulators.  Your Committee notes that similar entities have been proposed in the past but have not succeeded.  Your Committee finally finds that a thorough investigation of the unique needs of Hawaii's market, the requirements of federal law, and the sufficiency of the State's regulatory structures to support a local exchange are necessary to ensure that the creation of a local exchange will serve the State's interests in fostering economic growth and diversification.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 134, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 134, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair