STAND. COM. REP. 2233

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2907

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2907 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to adjust the filing fees charged for business registration filings with the Business Registration Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that Section 60 of Act 200, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, directed the DCCA to analyze and report its methods to align its expenditures with its special fund revenues collections. In December of 2003, the DCCA submitted a report to the Legislature that outlined its proposal to reduce its surplus revenues, which included the reduction of fees for business registration filings. The DCCA has also represented that it can decrease its current fee schedules without sacrificing its ability to provide effective and efficient service to the public.

Your Committee further finds that any efforts to decrease the costs of doing business in Hawaii will support a business-friendly climate that will allow existing companies to prosper and also encourage new organizations to enter the marketplace. Furthermore, these efforts will act to reinforce and reaffirm the State's commitment to economic recovery in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2907, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2907, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair