STAND. COM. REP. NO. 576

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1339

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1339 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RURAL AREAS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to qualify areas in the State as rural for purposes of participation in federal programs that accept state definitions of a rural area.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that while federal definitions of a "rural area" preclude many communities from participating in federal programs, several other federal programs recognize state definitions of a "rural area" for purposes of participation in those programs.  This measure will ensure that many of the State's culturally significant rural communities will continue to receive federal funds for services critical to their continued existence and prosperity.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, in order to facilitate continued discussion on the measure.

     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. 1339, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1339, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair