STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1110

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1547

       H.D. 3

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1547, H.D. 3, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to expand Hawaii's presence in the international arena.

 

     Specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes a legislative protocol fund for international affairs;

 

     (2)  Adds duties to the Office of International Affairs (Office) to facilitate international educational program links and to expand the scope of its functions to foster Hawaii's worldwide presence;

 

     (3)  Appropriates funds for the Office to hire an executive director and administrative assistant, and for program operation and expenses; and

 

     (4)  Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to bring the Second International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations to Hawaii in 2009, and to begin preliminary planning for the 2009 conference. 

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu; Department of Education; University of Hawaii System; East-West Center; Center for Chinese Studies; Hawaii English Language Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa;  Center for Chinese Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association; Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce; Global Brain, Inc.; United Nations Association of the United States of America Hawaii Division; Hawaii Highway Users Alliance; Charley's Taxi; Economic Development Alliance; and eleven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that realization of Hawaii's longstanding desire for economic diversification and sustainability turns on applying the State's high skilled resources to the creation and adoption of innovation across the economy.

 

     Your Committee further finds that in order to advance Hawaii's global competitiveness through education, there needs to be coordination between the State, counties, and educational institutions, as well as private agencies engaged in international affairs.  This measure would designate the Office of International Affairs as the central point for accountability serving as a portal of information and to leverage resources.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the appropriation for the Second International Symposium on Freeway and Tollway Operations;

 

     (2)  Inserting an appropriation of $60,000 for each year of the fiscal biennium for the Office operations;

 

     (3)  Adding promotion of international sport events that benefit the State to the duties of the Office; and

 

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2007.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1547, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1547, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair