CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 191-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2384

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2384, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII PRODUCTS PREFERENCE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the procurement preference for Hawaii products to only apply to agricultural goods, value-added products, and commodities; and

(2) Require the Department of Accounting and General Services to provide written notice to offerors listed on the Hawaii products list regarding any amendments to the list, including effective dates and dates of repeal.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the preference for Hawaii products was established to encourage the use of Hawaii products by bidders to support local industries. Your Committee on Conference further finds that this incentive no longer retains its utility and instead, increases costs and delays in the procurement process. Your Committee on Conference further finds, however, that the preference should remain in effect for agricultural goods, value-added products, and commodities. Accordingly, this measure streamlines the procurement process and furthers the State's food production and sustainability goals by narrowing the scope of the Hawaii products preference.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2384, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2384, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Chair
____________________________ LISA KITAGAWA Co-Chair	____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Co-Chair
____________________________ TINA WILDBERGER Co-Chair	____________________________ BENNETTE MISALUCHA Co-Chair