STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2121

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1296

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1296, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Hawaii Economic Development District Planning Organization to implement the United States Economic Development Administration-approved comprehensive economic development strategy;

(2) Establish temporary full-time equivalent positions to support the Organization; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Organization and hiring of necessary staff.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; and Hawai‘i Island Economic Development Board Inc. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of positions to an unspecified number; and

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

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 S.B. No. 1296, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1296, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair