STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3953

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1974

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROCUREMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage small businesses to participate in public procurement.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the small business assistance initiative within the State Procurement Office, to consist of a small business procurement coordinator and small business office; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to the State Procurement Office for the small business assistance initiative.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Procurement Office, Department of Transportation, Office of Veterans' Services, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the small business assistance initiative established by this measure will help to identify, quantify, and address the needs of small businesses in the State, especially those businesses owned by veterans, Native Hawaiians, and women.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that certain data, metrics, and reports shall be submitted to the Administrator of the State Procurement Office, who serves as the chief procurement officer for most executive branch agencies;

(2) Changing the amount appropriated for the small business initiative from $366,000 to an unspecified sum;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair