STAND. COM. REP. NO.  712-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2256

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2256 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, ENERGY, AND FOOD SECURITY TAX REPEAL DATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide for the long-term availability of financial resources to enable the State to achieve its 2030 clean energy and food security goals.  Specifically, this measure extends the repeal date of certain sections of Act 73, Session Laws of Hawaii 2010, to ensure the continued availability of funds from the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax for these purposes.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Health; Hawaii Energy Policy Forum; Sierra Club of Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; The Nature Conservancy; Ulupono Initiative; Blue Planet Foundation; and Hawaii Green Growth testified in support of this measure.  The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii testified in opposition to this measure.  Tax Foundation of Hawaii commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2256 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair