Bill Text: HI SB2948 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Ship Repair Industry Loan Program; Department of Transportation; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-19 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SB2948 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SB2948-Introduced.html
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2948 |
|
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO SHIP REPAIR.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The Hawaii shipbuilding and repairing industry is comprised of establishments that are primarily engaged in operating small shipyards, which are fixed facilities with drydocks and fabrication equipment. Shipyard activities include ship construction, repair, conversion and alteration, as well as the production of prefabricated ship, boat, and barge sections and other specialized services. The industry also utilizes local manufacturing and other industries and trades outside of the shipyard, which provide vital jobs, parts, or services for shipbuilding activities within a shipyard.
The legislature finds that ship repair is a critical industry in our maritime dependent state. Ship repair capability insures the safe and timely operation of ships and barges supplying the Hawaiian islands. Without this capability, many ships will go to the mainland for repair and dry docking – reducing revenues for the State.
The legislature further finds that ship repair provides well-paying industrial and technical job opportunities for citizens of Hawaii and critical industrial services to our community, such as repair of engines and generators, welding and metal fabrication, ventilation and air conditioning, and critical service to oil product transfer buoys. However, ship repair companies in Hawaii have a significant cost competitive disadvantage with mainland and foreign ship repair entities due to our higher wages and material shipping costs.
The legislature also finds that sustaining and supporting a strong maritime industry is critical to the quality of life and survivability for citizens of the State of Hawaii.
The legislature further finds that a ship repair industry grant program is necessary to foster efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration in small shipyards in Hawaii. Supporting these projects would be effective in fostering employee skills and enhancing productivity in Hawaii, whose economy is related to and critically dependent upon the maritime industry.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a ship repair industry grant program and make an appropriation to support the program.
SECTION 2. Chapter 266, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§266- Ship repair industry grant program. (a) There is established the ship repair industry grant program, through which the department of transportation may provide grants to any small shipyard, as defined under title 46 United States Code section 54101 (h), in Hawaii that requires capital assistance for any of the following eligible projects:
(1) Capital and related improvement projects that are effective in fostering efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration;
(2) Training projects that will be effective in fostering employee skills and enhancing productivity; and
(3) Purchase of machinery and equipment used in ship repair, ship construction, and reconfiguration.
(b) No grant shall exceed $ ; provided that no shipyard shall receive more than one grant in any given year.
(c) To qualify for a grant under this section, the applicant shall have been operating a small commercial shipyard with floating dry docking capability located in this State for at least five years.
(d) In reviewing grant applications pursuant to this section, the department of transportation shall analyze each application to determine whether the eligible project will be economically viable and beneficial to the State.
(e) The ship repair industry grant program shall be funded through appropriations from the legislature and federal grants, loans, and loan guarantees.
(f) The department of transportation shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session held in every even-numbered year. The report shall include the following information:
(1) The total number of grants provided;
(2) The total projected economic and employment growth facilitated by the grants provided; and
(3) The actual economic and employment growth that occurred as a result of the grants provided."
SECTION 3. 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 2016-2017 for the ship repair industry grant program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Report Title:
Ship Repair Industry Grant Program; Department of Transportation; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the ship repair industry grant program. Makes an appropriation.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
