HI HB998

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

Creates a 15-member governing board comprised of the Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (chair), the four county mayors, four county economic development board executive directors, four county workforce development board representatives, the University of Hawaii president, and one labor organization representative appointed by the governor.

Designates the planning organization to develop and implement the U.S. Economic Development Administration-approved comprehensive economic development strategy and support organizations within the district to apply for federal funding.

Establishes two full-time temporary exempt economic development planning analyst positions to support the planning organization.

Appropriates $200,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 and $200,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025 to carry out the Act's purposes, effective July 1, 2023.