S.B. 1236 Summary

• Establishes a small business office within the department of business, economic development, and tourism to administer the state small business program.

• Authorizes the small business office to coordinate small business programs, provide training and assistance to small businesses doing business with the State, maintain source lists, conduct training programs, and establish a goal of awarding 20 percent of the State's annual purchasing expenditures to small businesses.

• Transfers duties previously assigned to the chief procurement officer under section 103D-903 to the small business office, including reducing bonding requirements, making progress payment provisions, and imposing evaluation criteria to encourage small business subcontractors.

• Requires the small business regulatory review board to adopt rules defining "small business" using detailed criteria similar to the United States Small Business Administration, and to establish set-asides for small businesses including native Hawaiian organizations and veteran-owned organizations.

• Repeals sections 103D-903 (duties of chief procurement officer) and 103D-904 (geographic bidding) from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code.