HI SR61

Establishes a joint government and private sector task force to study restructuring the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) and redirecting its mission from a "hands-on" agency to a "facilitative" clearinghouse.

Task force shall assess existing private resources such as island Economic Development Boards that could facilitate economic development, and identify cost savings through organizational and program restructuring.

Task force membership includes representatives from DBEDT, four county Economic Development Boards, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and other appropriate members.

Task force must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2011 Regular Session convenes.

DBEDT currently functions as a "catch-all" agency housing the Foreign Trade Zone, Aloha Tower Development Corporation, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Center of Excellence for Ocean Science, and Land Use Commission, among other functions.