STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3511

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2289

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2289, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address issues relating to the Hawaii Community-Based Economic Development Technical and Financial Assistance Program.

     Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Reduces the size of the Community-Based Economic Development Advisory Council from twelve to nine members;

(2)  Amends the eligibility criteria for community-based economic development grants;

(3)  Includes technical assistance among the eligible uses of community-based economic development grants; and

(4)  Appropriates moneys for technical and financial assistance for community-based economic development.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Pacific Growth Associates, the Waianae Economic Development Council, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that for nearly twenty-five years, the Community-Based Economic Development Program has assisted over one thousand community-based organizations through loans, grants, and technical assistance.  However, as it currently exists, the Community-Based Economic Development Program is not entirely self-sustaining.  Your Committee believes that the moneys appropriated and various amendments made to chapter 210D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by this measure will enable the Community-Based Economic Development Program to become more self-sufficient and assist more community-based organizations throughout the State.

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

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism has requested an appropriation of $1,000,000 for the purposes of this 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 H.B. No. 2289, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2289, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair