STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1162-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2265

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2265, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Micro Enterprise Assistance Program on Hawaiian Home Lands Revolving Fund to provide grants and loans to qualified recipients.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Association of Hawaiians for Hawaiian Lands, Hawaiian Affairs Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Center for Hawaiian Sovereignty Studies. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the program established by this measure will promote economic growth and development by providing loans to qualified native Hawaiians, Native Hawaiian community organizations, and native Hawaiian-controlled homestead associations seeking to establish "micro enterprise" businesses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing the Micro Enterprise Assistance Program on Hawaiian Home Lands Revolving Fund in the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, rather than in the state treasury;

(2) Appropriating funds for the Micro Enterprise Assistance Program on Hawaiian Home Lands Revolving Fund from Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Fund, rather than the general fund;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2051, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2265, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2265, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair