STAND. COM. REP. NO. 232

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1496

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs and Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1496 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENTERPRISE ZONES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the definition of "eligible business activity" to include the development and operation of space exploration and lunar research related activities to qualify these activities for the benefits associated with State Enterprise Zones.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from one state department, eight organizations, and five individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from one state department.

 

     Your Committees find that aerospace is a strategic and timely growth industry for Hawaii.  With Hawaii's unique mid-Pacific location, moon- and mars-like terrain, substantial resident expertise in a broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines, and both academic and business partnerships with nations throughout Asia and the Pacific, strategic assets and capabilities can be leveraged to realize humankind's full potential in space, as well as create well-paying jobs and educational and business development opportunities for citizens statewide.

 

     Your Committees further find that Hawaii clearly has significant advantages in terms of location, geographical resources, and international connectivity that position aerospace as a strategic growth industry for the State.  This is one of the most progressive and forward-looking industries in the world and Hawaii can lead both our nation and the global space community in pioneering new vistas for aviation, aeronautics, and space exploration.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs and Economic Development and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1496 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs and Economic Development and Technology,

 

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair