The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on Feb. 27, 2024.
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Feb. 27, 2024, 10 a.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 016 and Videoconference
To: Senate Committee on Judiciary
Sen. Karl Rhoads, Chair
Sen. Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: TESTIMONY SUPPORTING SB3043 SD1 — RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW BOARD
Aloha Chair Rhoads, Vice-Chair Gabbard and Committee Members,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its comments in support of SB3043 SD1, which would allow the Small Business Regulatory Review Board to comment on proposed legislation at the request of a small business owner.
The Small Business Regulatory Review Board was established in 1998 to represent the interests of Hawaii entrepreneurs. It functions mainly to review proposed amendments, additions and deletions to the administrative rules of state agencies.
However, it rarely suggests amendments to or opposes new administrative rules,[1] calling into question its efficacy as a defender of small business interests.
This might be because few business owners know about the board. By expanding its scope of responsibilities to include legislative input, this bill could help increase the Board’s impact and effectiveness.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] “Hawaii Small Business Regulatory Review Board: Annual Report Summary,” Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, 2023, p. 33.
