STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3124

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3337

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 S.B. No. 3337, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ECONOMY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize projects that address specific policy goals in economic disaster mitigation and economic diversification.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a public policy framework that addresses state goals in the areas of economic disaster mitigation and economic diversification;

(2) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to implement specific projects that address those goals;

(3) Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit annual reports to the Legislature summarizing project outcomes, including an assessment of each project's effectiveness in achieving the goals; and

(4) Appropriates moneys to staff the Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; Hawaii State Energy Office; Hawaii Tourism Authority; Hunt Companies; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and one individual.

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

Your Committee finds that the projects authorized and funded by this measure will help to align the State with the emerging knowledge-based, zero emission, and digital global economy.

Your Committee notes that this measure, as received by your Committee, appropriated moneys for the following projects:

(1) $500,000 for community-based economic development revitalization grants;

(2) $1,000,000 for digital literacy training;

(3) $500,000 for Instant Teams' phase 2;

(4) $300,000 for remote work website business resources;

(5) $1,310,000 to expand creative space studio at Entrepreneurs Sandbox;

(6) $50,000 for a film permitting digital system; and

(7) $500,000 for a cyber leaders program.

Your Committee also recognizes the request from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for an appropriation of $150,000 for two full-time equivalent positions at the Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies, as provided in section 5 of the measure.

Your Committee further recognizes the following additional appropriation requests from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism:

(1) An additional $100,000 for the Creative Industries Division to build an online hub for all creative sectors, including a film component;

(2) $1,000,000 for carrier-neutral cable landing infrastructure;

(3) $400,000 to establish an office of international affairs;

(4) $2,500,000 for Solarize Waianae;

(5) $12,125,000 for Saratoga Avenue electrical and communications infrastructure improvements;

(6) $25,000,000 for repair of the Fisherman's Wharf bulkhead;

(7) $13,000,000 for expansion of the research campus at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority;

(8) $10,000,000 to fund a sustainable aviation fuel program in the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; and

(9) $5,000,000 to accelerate the transition of the state fleet to zero emission vehicles.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the preamble to reflect the measure's contents;

(2) Changing the amounts appropriated for the various projects in the measure to unspecified sums;

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

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

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 S.B. No. 3337, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3337, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair