HI HB1194

Establishes the Hawaii Economic Development District Planning Organization administratively attached to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Designates the organization as the district organization for implementing the United States Economic Development Administration-approved comprehensive economic development strategy and managing multi-level partnerships for economic resilience.

Creates a 15-member governing board comprising the OPSD director (chair), four county mayors, four county economic development board executive directors, four county workforce development board representatives, University of Hawaii president, and one labor organization representative appointed by the governor.

Establishes full-time equivalent temporary economic development planning analyst positions exempt from state civil service and collective bargaining requirements to support the organization's operations.

Appropriates general funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to hire staff and carry out the organization's purposes; effective date July 1, 2050.