HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2243

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE HUI IMI ADVISORY COUNCIL.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that small business plays an important role in Hawaii's economy.  According to the 2017 Hawaii Small Business Profile, in 2014, small businesses created about seven thousand new jobs and employed about fifty-two per cent of the private workforce.  Further, the desire for self-reliance; self-determination; a healthy environment; and an increased social, physical, and economic well-being for individuals and families in Hawaii requires the creation of new jobs, most of which will be provided by the small business community.

     The legislature also finds that Hawaiian-owned small businesses are underrepresented in both Hawaii and the United States.  According to the United States Census Bureau's 2012 survey of business owners, only nine one hundredths of one per cent of all businesses in the United States were owned by Hawaiians, with more than half of these businesses located in Hawaii.  Moreover, the 2012 survey revealed that Hawaiian-owned businesses accounted for only eleven per cent of total businesses in Hawaii.

     The legislature further finds that Act 376, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, reauthorized the Hui Imi task force as the Hui Imi advisory council to, among other things, produce a report to the legislature and the governor to examine numerous issues facing the Hawaiian community and provide recommendations.  In its report to the twenty-second legislature of Hawaii, the council recommended that the "State should continue to support the creating and expansion of Hawaiian small businesses."  The legislature recognizes the importance to both the State and the Hawaiian community for continued state support for the expansion of the Hawaiian small business community.  The legislature notes that, unfortunately, the Hui Imi advisory council is no longer active.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to reconvene and repurpose the Hui Imi advisory council and require the advisory council to conduct a study on the present state of Hawaiian small business in Hawaii and to annually submit a report of its findings to the legislature.

     SECTION 2.  Section 10-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§10-18[]]  Hui ‘Imi advisory council.  (a)  There is established a Hui ‘Imi advisory council, to be placed within the office of Hawaiian affairs for administrative purposes only.  The advisory council shall consist of representatives from the following:

     (1)  Office of Hawaiian affairs;

     (2)  Department of education;

     (3)  Department of Hawaiian home lands;

     (4)  Department of health;

     (5)  Department of human services;

     (6)  Department of business, economic development, and tourism;

     (7)  Department of land and natural resources;

     (8)  University of Hawaii;

     (9)  House of representatives standing committee with primary jurisdiction over Hawaiian affairs; and

    (10)  Senate standing committee with primary jurisdiction over Hawaiian affairs[;

    (11)  Alu Like, Inc.;

    (12)  The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs;

    (13)  E Ola Mau;

    (14)  The Kamehameha Schools;

    (15)  The Lunalilo Home;

    (16)  The Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Program of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum;]

    (17)  The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation;

    (18)  Papa Ola Lokahi;

    (19)  The Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center;

    (20)  Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; and

    (21)  Any other agency, organization, or entity that expresses interest to participate in fulfilling the advisory council's mandate].

     (b)  The advisory council shall make a good faith effort to include as members other public and private agencies, organizations, or entities that express interest in fulfilling the advisory council's mandate[.], including but not limited to the following:

     (1)  Alu Like, Inc.;

     (2)  The Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs;

     (3)  The Kamehameha Schools;

     (4)  The Lunalilo Home;

     (5)  The Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation;

     (6)  Papa Ola Lokahi;

     (7)  The Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center; and

     (8)  Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.

     [(b)] (c)  Each member shall be appointed by the director or other chief executive of the member's organization within forty-five days [following] after July 1, [2003.] 2018.  The advisory council members shall select a chairperson and establish procedural rules for its internal administration.  The rules shall be exempt from the public notice and hearing provisions of chapter 91.  Administrative expenses of the advisory council, such as photocopying, postage, stationery, and office supplies incidental to the performance of members' duties [may] shall be reimbursed [out of appropriations made to the advisory council,] by the office, but members of the advisory council shall otherwise serve without compensation and without reimbursement for travel expenses.

     [(c)] (d)  The Hui ‘Imi advisory council shall:

     (1)  Serve as a liaison between public and private entities serving the Hawaiian community in the planning and development of collaborative public and private endeavors;

     (2)  Investigate [the] issues [described in the Hui ‘Imi task force report volumes I and II and such other issues affecting Hawaiians as the advisory council shall designate; and] affecting the Hawaiian small business community, including the following:

          (A)  The use of Hawaiian small business incubators and accelerators to encourage the development of new businesses and foster economic development by diversifying the local economic base, enhancing Hawaii's image as a center of innovation and entrepreneurship, increasing employment opportunities in the State, and encouraging greater use of public-private partnerships;

          (B)  The use of one-stop permitting and financial assistance centers to help Hawaiian small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs comply with the various licenses and permits necessary to operate a business and to provide referrals to businesses needing information on eligibility for federal, state, and county financial assistance programs;

          (C)  The use of Hawaiian small business incentive programs and Hawaiian small business development centers to stimulate growth; provide marketing, accounting, and economic analysis services to Hawaiian-owned small businesses that would otherwise not be able to afford assistance in these areas; more efficiently link existing business assistance organizations; and create new types of services where those services are needed;

          (D)  Entrepreneurship education at the post-secondary levels utilizing the expertise of the private sector to develop appropriate curriculum;

          (E)  Identification of the federal and state government policies that specifically relate to Hawaiian small business, including permit procedures and fees, payroll costs, and tax and labor issues; and

          (F)  The use of grants awarded pursuant to section 10‑17, to benefit the Hawaiian small business community; and

     (3)  Submit [a] an annual report of its findings and recommendations[, which report shall include an action plan for the implementation of the Hui ‘Imi task force report volumes I and II, with a view toward incorporating the action plan into the state general plan.  The report shall be submitted to the governor and the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2005.], including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session.

     (e)  In conducting the study, the advisory council shall consult with the department of business, economic development, and tourism and its attached agencies, the small business regulatory review board, the office of Hawaiian affairs, and any other interested parties representing or assisting Hawaiian small businesses.

     (f)  The office of Hawaiian affairs shall provide administrative support to the advisory council."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.


 


 

Report Title:

Small Business; Study; Hui Imi Advisory Council; OHA; Economic Development

 

Description:

Reconvenes and repurposes the Hui Imi advisory council and requires the advisory council to conduct a study on the state of Hawaiian small business in Hawaii and to submit a report of its findings to the legislature.  (HB2243 HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.