STAND. COM. REP. NO. 295

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1125

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on International Affairs and the Arts and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1125 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE OF GOA, REPUBLIC OF INDIA,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish the State of Hawaii sister-state office in the State of Goa, Republic of India.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Indian American Friendship Council; Creative Cuisine; and fifty-three individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committees find that in 2016, the Legislature established a sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and the State of Goa, Republic of India.  Your Committees further find that establishing a sister-state office in the State of Goa will help promote trade, tourism, and cultural-exchange between the two states.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding language to require the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to monitor trade, economic development, business partnerships, cultural exchange, and educational exchange in the Republic of India and the State of Goa and between the State of Goa and the State of Hawaii and to report its findings to the Legislature twenty days prior to the convening of the 2018 Regular Session; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on International Affairs and the Arts and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1125, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1125, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on International Affairs and the Arts and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair