STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3456

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2781

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2781, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Small Business Regulatory Review Board to convene a working group to study and make recommendations to resolve the concerns related to chapter 201M, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to small business regulatory flexibility.

 

     This measure also requires the Small Business Regulatory Review Board to report to the 2009 Legislature on its findings and recommendations, including any legislation necessary to implement the recommendations.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Small Business Regulatory Review Board; and the National Federation of Independent Businesses in Hawaii.

 

     The working group would include, but not be limited to, representatives of small business organizations, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and others as deemed appropriate.  The Chairperson of the Small Business Regulatory Review Board shall serve as chair of the working group.

 

     This measure represents a continuous effort by the Legislature to lighten the regulatory burden on small businesses, since the enactment of Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act.  A working group of stakeholders is necessary to identify problem areas and remedies thereto, and to make recommendations for legislation.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding the provisions of a similar measure, H.B. No. 2736, S.D. 1, as amended, on the recommendation of the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.  These added provisions establish the small business bill of rights and authorizes the Ombudsman to investigate complaints of violations of these rights;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2781, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2781, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means,

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair