Bill Text: HI SB467 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 467 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Renewable Energy; DBEDT Division

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB467 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB467-Amended.html

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 356

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 467

S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 467 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the renewable energy industry in Hawaii by:

(1) Establishing a Division of Renewable Energy in the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to coordinate and promote renewable energy initiatives; and

(2) Establishing a renewable energy business investment earned income tax credit.

Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by one state department and one private organization. Comments were submitted by one state department and one private organization. Written testimony presented to your Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

Your Committees find that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism has established a Renewable Energy Program as part of the Hawaii State Energy Office, and intends that this program will grow into a branch within the next six months. Your Committees also find that it would be beneficial to support this reorganization that is already under way.

Your Committees have amended the measure by deleting the contents of the measure and inserting language provided by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, which:

(1) Establishes the Renewable Energy Branch of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

(2) Revises section 226-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to strengthen energy diversification, a longer-term view of what is reasonable in energy planning, and utilization of energy technologies;

(3) Revises section 196-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to strengthen the duties of the Energy Resources Coordinator in the renewable energy and project development areas;

(4) Establishes within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism seven full-time, temporary positions exempt from chapters 76 and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to support the planning and renewable energy functions of the Renewable Energy Branch; and

(5) Adds an appropriation for energy analysts.

Your Committees note that the measure provides an exemption from chapter 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as well as an exemption from chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes (civil service), and encourages the Senate Ways and Means Committee to examine the feasibility of both exemptions in conjunction with current budget realities.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment 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. 467, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 467, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Economic Development and Technology,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair