STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1857

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1194

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1194, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT PLANNING ORGANIZATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to assist Hawaii in qualifying for the benefits of a United States Economic Development Administration-designated economic development district.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the Hawaii Economic Development District Planning Organization;

(2) Establishes four temporary economic development planning analyst positions; and

(3) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committee finds that establishing an economic development district, which is a multi-county entity tasked to help lead and coordinate locally-developed and regionally-driven economic development in Hawaii, will help to drive Hawaii's economy and increase the likelihood of federal fund investment in the designated area.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of full-time equivalent positions established from four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) positions to an unspecified number; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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. 1194, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1194, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair