STAND. COM. REP. NO. 343

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1053

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 1053 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 expand the eligibility of organizations that can receive Community-based Economic Development (CBED) technical assistance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawai‘i Primary Care Association.

Your Committee finds that technical assistance is an important component of CBED technical assistance and should not only support community-based organizations, but also for-profit businesses, including recipients of CBED microloans. Your Committee further finds that expanding those organizations that are eligible for CBED technical assistance will allow the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to better assist in their success and viability. This measure will provide greater opportunity for for-profit businesses to participate in the CBED program and also enable DBEDT's CBED program to be more responsive in addressing community-based economic development needs and opportunities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1053, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1053, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair