The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs on Feb. 16, 2024.
___________
Feb. 16, 2024, 2 p.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 325 and Videoconference
To: House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs
Rep. David Tarnas, Chair
Rep. Gregg Takayama, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: COMMENTS IN SUPPORT FOR HB2354 HD1
— RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW BOARD
Aloha Chair Tarnas, Vice-Chair Takayama and Committee Members,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its comments in support of HB2354 HD1, 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 in the executive branch. 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 the Board’s 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
_____________
[1] “Hawaii Small Business Regulatory Review Board: Annual Report Summary,” Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, 2023, p. 33.
