STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2169

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2291

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2291 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADVISORY BOARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish advisory boards, focused on workforce development, for the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority; and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that seeking and encouraging partnerships within the agricultural, technology, and natural energy industries will support the desired increase in exports and local food production, as well as the overarching goal of creating a sustainable local economy. Your Committee further finds that the establishment of the advisory boards pursuant to this measure will support the departmental and agency initiatives by further identifying workforce needs and improving the coordination and alignment with the State's businesses, community partners, and other government agencies.

Your Committee notes this measure contains unspecified requirements as to the frequency with which the advisory boards are to meet. Your Committee respectfully requests that subsequent Committees who may choose to deliberate on this measure make recommendations as to the frequency of meetings for the advisory boards.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the membership of the advisory boards, by adding a representative of the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, or their designee, to be invited by the Governor to participate as a member, and removing the Executive Director of the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute as a member;

(2) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2060, 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. 2291, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2291, 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,

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LYNN DECOITE, Chair