STAND. COM. REP. NO. 953
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2015
RE: S.B. No. 1295
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Joseph M. Souki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Eighth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2015
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred S.B. No. 1295, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NATURAL ENERGY LABORATORY OF HAWAII AUTHORITY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to improve government operations and efficiency, as well as Hawaii's economy, by:
(1) Allowing the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to enter into inter-agency agreements with the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) without entering into a memorandum of agreement or memorandum of understanding; and
(2) Incentivize the research, development, and commercialization of renewable energy technology in Hawaii by allowing business activities relating to energy produced by ocean thermal energy conversion, solar, or hydrogen and to technologies, including hydrogen research and development, to qualify a business for incentives under the State Enterprise Zone Program.
Your Committee finds that it is important to promote efficiency in government. Providing state agencies with a framework for coordinating resources and eliminating waste is an important step toward saving money that can be more productively used elsewhere.
Your Committee also finds that research, development, and commercialization of renewable energy technology in Hawaii should be incentivized. Renewable energy technology is important for Hawaii's economy as it generates demand for jobs in science and engineering and promises to produce clean energy that will help Hawaii gain greater independence from oil for energy production.
However, your Committee notes that the Enterprise Zone Program was intended to assist economically challenged areas through the creation of jobs and that according to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, energy related commercialization and research and development historically has not created large numbers of employment opportunities. Furthermore, your Committee notes concerns raised by the Department of Taxation that the Enterprise Zone incentives provided in this measure lack oversight by DBEDT, the agency charged with administration of the Enterprise Zone program. Nevertheless, your Committee notes that this measure is a work in progress that deserves further consideration.
Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to February 19, 2025, to encourage further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1295, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1295, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,
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____________________________ DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, Chair |
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