HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1194

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT PLANNING ORGANIZATION.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that being designated as an economic development district by the United States Economic Development Administration offers opportunities to advance coordinated and locally developed goals that leverage and build upon interrelated community assets, such as workforce, infrastructure, and housing.  An economic development district advances a long-term established relationship with the United States Economic Development Administration that includes annual federal funding to support the development and implementation of the Hawaii comprehensive economic development strategy.  The United States Economic Development Administration is much more likely to invest federal funds in a designated economic development district than in an area that is not covered by an economic development district.

     The legislature further finds that, pursuant to Title 13 Code of Federal Regulations section 304.1, an economic development district designation by the United States Economic Development Administration requires:

     (1)  A comprehensive economic development strategy that has been approved by the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development of the United States Department of Commerce and includes a specific program for intra-district cooperation, self-help, and public investment;

     (2)  Commitments from a majority of counties within the proposed district;

     (3)  A district organization, which may be organized under state law as a multi-jurisdictional area-wide planning organization; and

     (4)  That the district organization meet requirements established in Title 13 Code of Federal Regulations section 304.2, including that the organization's governing body be broadly representative of the principal economic interests of the region by involving the private sector, public officials, community leaders, representatives of workforce development boards, institutions of higher learning, minority and labor groups, and private citizens.

     The purpose of this Act is to ensure that Hawaii is eligible for the substantial benefits of a United States Economic Development Administration-designated economic development district by:

     (1)  Establishing the Hawaii economic development district planning organization and governing board to be administratively attached to the office of planning and sustainable development; and

     (2)  Creating four full-time equivalent positions and appropriating funds to support the operations of the Hawaii economic development district planning organization.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§226-     Hawaii economic development district planning organization.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii economic development district planning organization, which shall be the district organization for purposes of implementing the United States Economic Development Administration-approved comprehensive economic development strategy.  The Hawaii economic development district planning organization shall be placed within the department of business, economic development, and tourism and attached to the office of planning and sustainable development for administrative purposes.

     (b)  The Hawaii economic development district planning organization shall:

     (1)  Develop, manage, and support effective multi-level partnerships to promote intra-district cooperation, self-help, and public investment to restore and sustain economic resilience and prosperity;

     (2)  Assist organizations within the economic development district with applications for funding;

     (3)  Implement the United States Economic Development Administration-approved comprehensive economic development strategy; and

     (4)  Report to the governor and legislature regarding any annual updates to the comprehensive economic development strategy.

     (c)  The Hawaii economic development district planning organization shall be headed by a board that shall comprise the following fifteen members:

     (1)  The director of the office of planning and sustainable development or the director's designee, who shall serve as chair;

     (2)  The mayor of each county or the respective mayor's designee;

     (3)  The executive director of each county economic development board or the respective executive director's designee;

     (4)  A representative of each county workforce development board, who shall be designated by the chair of the respective board;

     (5)  The president of the university of Hawaii or the president's designee; and

     (6)  A representative of a labor organization who shall be appointed by the governor.

     (d)  The nongovernmental members of the Hawaii economic development district planning organization board shall serve for no more than two consecutive four-year terms.  Members shall not be subject to section 26-34(a).

     (e)  Members of the Hawaii economic development district planning organization board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including reasonable travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (f)  The Hawaii economic development district planning organization board shall hold public meetings at least twice a year.  The meetings shall be subject to chapter 92."

     SECTION 3.  There are established four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) temporary economic development planning analyst positions to support the Hawaii economic development district planning organization; provided that the positions shall be exempt from chapters 76 and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes; provided further that the positions shall be funded using general funds.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $400,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the hiring of necessary staff.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.


 


 

Report Title:

Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaii Economic Development District Planning Organization; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the Hawaii Economic Development District Planning Organization.  Designates the Hawaii Economic Development District Planning Organization as the district organization for purposes of implementing the United States Economic Development Administration-approved comprehensive economic development strategy.  Establishes positions.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 6/30/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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