STAND. COM. REP. 1202

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.C.R. No. 47

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Legislative Management, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 47 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO ASSIST AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONCERNING ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose this concurrent resolution is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to assist an Advisory Committee in determining the establishment of an Office of International Affairs within state government.

Specifically, the concurrent resolution:

(1) Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study and recommend the most appropriate placement of an Office of International Affairs;

(2) Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to work with an Advisory Committee;

(3) Specifies that the Advisory Committee is composed of three members, with the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate each appointing one member; and

(4) Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to report its finding and recommendations to the Legislature twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2004.

A private individual testified in support of the concurrent resolution. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism opposed the concurrent resolution, while the Legislative Reference Bureau submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii has many resources that point to a more active international role for our State. Currently, a number of internationally focused programs exist in various departments and agencies. Your Committee believes that Hawaii should wait no longer to examine our assets and opportunities; instead, we must determine our role in international affairs around the globe to better understand our challenges and opportunities at home and abroad.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

(1) Clarifying that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to study and recommend the most appropriate location for an Office of International Affairs within state government;

(2) Clarifying that the study is intended to determine which of the various functions listed in the concurrently resolution, e.g. tourism, culture, trade and commerce, peace initiatives, are most appropriately within the scope of a state government Office of International Affairs;

(3) Replacing the Advisory Committee with representatives to be named by the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate, respectively, who will be available to consult with the Legislative Reference Bureau on issues relating to the concurrent resolution;

(4) Amending the title to more accurately reflect the amended concurrent resolution; and

(5) Correcting a typographical error.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Legislative Management that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 47, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on International Affairs, in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 47, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Legislative Management,

 

____________________________

MICHAEL Y. MAGAOAY, Chair