HB 2475 Summary

• Establishes a maritime industry grant program within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to award grants to qualified shipyards in Honolulu harbor.

• Defines "qualified shipyard" as a shipyard facility in Honolulu harbor with no more than 1,200 employees that has been operating for at least five years and is incorporated under Hawaii law.

• Eligible grant projects include capital improvements for ship construction and repair, workforce development and training initiatives, and purchase of machinery and equipment used in ship repair or construction.

• Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to submit biennial reports (20 days prior to regular sessions in even-numbered years) detailing the number of applications and grants awarded, economic benefits realized, and grant amounts.

• Appropriates funds from general revenues for fiscal year 2016-2017 to award grants and administer the program; exempts the program from procurement and contracting statutes (HRS chapters 42F, 103D, and 103F).