STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2714

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2419

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2419, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Stadium Authority to work with certain state agencies to develop a regional plan for a sports-technology district.

     The measure also requires the Stadium Authority to report to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.  The High Technology Development Corporation submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that other cities have used sports and technology to foster innovation and facilitate economic growth.  Your Committee believes that the development of a sports-technology district will secure investments for athletic facilities, provide jobs, and develop workforce housing.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Stadium Authority shall work with all state agencies that own property within a one-half mile radius of the proposed Aloha Stadium rail station;

     (2)  Changing the effective date from upon approval to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity 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. 2419, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2419, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair