Bill Text: HI HB538 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Economic Development.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB538 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB538-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	538
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to economic development.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that on November 1, 1972, business leaders of Hawaii and Japan met in Honolulu to establish the Japan-Hawaii economic council.  Their primary motivations were to further economic relations between Japan and the United States and to recognize Hawaii's important role in that regard.  For nearly thirty years, hundreds of business and government leaders from Japan and Hawaii met at annual meetings, alternating between Hawaii and Japan, to discuss and improve business, tourism, investment, education, and other mutually beneficial interests.  These meetings improved relations, increased cultural understanding, reduced trade restrictions, and improved the economies of Japan and the United States, particularly Hawaii.

     The legislature finds that relations between China and Hawaii today are similar to those that began to develop between Japan and Hawaii in the 1960s and 1970s.  The legislature further finds that establishment of a similar China-Hawaii economic council will provide an invaluable opportunity to further economic relations between Hawaii and China, including providing a better understanding of cultural differences, facilitating investment, increasing tourism, and promoting trade.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish the China-Hawaii economic council to further economic relations between China and Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201-     China-Hawaii economic council.  (a)  There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes the China-Hawaii economic council to further economic relations between China and Hawaii.

     (b)  The China-Hawaii economic council shall be governed by a policymaking and oversight commission to be known as the China-Hawaii economic council commission.  The China-Hawaii economic council commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34.  Members shall not receive compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

     (c)  The China-Hawaii economic council commission shall appoint an executive director of the China-Hawaii economic council, who shall:

     (1)  Serve as the China-Hawaii economic council chief executive officer;

     (2)  Be responsible for developing and administering the China-Hawaii economic council programs;

     (3)  Serve on a part-time or full-time basis;

     (4)  By reason of education or extensive experience, be generally recognized as professionally qualified in China-Hawaii relations;

     (5)  Be familiar with the peoples and cultures of Hawaii and China;

     (6)  Be exempt from chapter 76; and

     (7)  Select and employ necessary additional staff pursuant to chapter 76, subject to available appropriations.

     (d)  No later than December 31, 2024, the China-Hawaii economic council shall conduct the inaugural China-Hawaii economic council general meeting with business and government leaders from China and Hawaii.  Subsequent China-Hawaii economic council general meetings shall occur annually.

     (e)  Subsequent annual China-Hawaii economic council general meetings may:

     (1)  Alternate meeting locations between Hawaii and China; and

     (2)  Include discussions on trade, tourism, education, investment, finance, communication, and culture.

     (f)  The China-Hawaii economic council shall submit a report to the legislature on the proceedings of each China-Hawaii economic council general meeting no later than one-hundred eighty days following the closing of each China-Hawaii economic council general meeting."

     SECTION 3.  The China-Hawaii economic council shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2022, 2023, and 2024 regular sessions, which at a minimum shall include a description of the council's progress in conducting the inaugural China-Hawaii economic council general meeting.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the China-Hawaii economic council.

     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 July 1, 2019.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

DBEDT; China-Hawaii Economic Council; Economic Development; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism the China-Hawaii Economic Council to further economic relations between China and Hawaii.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.