STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2947

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2263

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2263, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to conduct an economic assessment on the establishment and economic viability of a small satellite launch and processing facility on the island of Hawaii.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition from the Aha Moku Advisory Committee.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii has long been recognized as an ideal location for the launching of spacecraft due to its geographic location.  Your Committees further find that the development of a small satellite launch and processing facility on the island of Hawaii has tremendous economic potential for the island as well as the State; however, an assessment is necessary to first determine the economic viability of such an endeavor.  Your Committees encourage the participation of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee and other interested groups in the feasibility study.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by requiring the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct the feasibility study in conjunction with the Office of Aerospace Development, in addition to the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems and Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Inc.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2263, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2263, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development, Environment, and Technology and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair