STAND. COM. REP. NO. 401

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 900

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 900 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:

     (1)  Amend the qualifications for Hawaii Community-Based Economic Development Technical and Financial Assistance Program (Program) grants to include technical assistance to community-based organizations; and

     (2)  Reduce the number of Community-Based Economic Development Advisory Council members from twelve to ten.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and the Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will help the Program assist more community-based organizations that serve distressed areas of the State.  Your Committee further finds that the Community-Based Economic Development Advisory Council faces difficulty in meeting due to lack of quorum and that lowering the number of advisory council members from twelve to ten will make it easier to schedule meetings and take official action.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 900 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair