STAND. COM. REP. NO.  583

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 800

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 800 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM FROM THE ENERGY SECURITY SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to support the Hawaii Refinery Task Force, which is established to assess the impacts to changes in Hawaii's refining capacity and to provide advice and recommendations on matters involving Hawaii's future fuels ecosystem.

More specifically, the measure appropriates $145,000 in energy security special funds as an emergency appropriation to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for fiscal year 2012-2013 to defray the task force's operational expenses.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that with the impending closure of Tesoro Hawaii's Kapolei refinery and the uncertain future of Hawaii's remaining Chevron refinery, the State must plan and prepare for changes in the State's refining capacity.  The Task Force will assist in this endeavor by advising the Governor on issues relating to maintaining adequate and affordable fuel supplies to meet the State's energy needs.  This measure will provide the necessary funding for coordination and operation of the Hawaii Refinery Task Force and enable the Energy Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to fill a vacant position to provide critical staff support to the Task Force.

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

     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. 800, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 800, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair