STAND. COM. REP. NO. 603

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1287

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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 1287 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate general funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for expenses related to the building renovations of its offices on the fifth floor of the No. 1 Capitol District Building, located at 250 South Hotel Street, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority.

Your Committee finds that in 2022, the Legislature appropriated funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for its building renovations in the amount of $660,000. However, the Governor line-item vetoed that amount among other items to comply with the federally mandated Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds Maintenance of Effort requirement. Your Committee further finds that due to health and safety concerns and deteriorating conditions, the entire fifth floor of the No. 1 Capitol District Building needs to be completely renovated. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism currently occupies the fifth floor of the building and will therefore be required to pay for expenses related to the building renovations. This measure will allow the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to complete necessary building renovations by appropriating funds for expenses related to the building renovations of its offices on the fifth floor of the No. 1 Capitol District Building.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the appropriation of $660,000 and inserting a blank amount;

(2) Inserting an effective date of January 6, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1287, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1287, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

________________________________

LYNN DECOITE, Chair