REPORT TITLE:
Technology


DESCRIPTION:
Short form bill (S/F).

 
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                                                        2780
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  Findings and purpose.  The legislature finds
 
 2 that Hawaii is one of the most geographically isolated
 
 3 communities on earth, and for many years, our economic
 
 4 opportunities were limited by this isolation.  Recent advances in
 
 5 telecommunications, information technology, and the explosive
 
 6 growth of the Internet, however, present significant new
 
 7 opportunities for the State to develop and diversify its economy,
 
 8 opening the global market to Hawaii businesses.
 
 9      The legislature further finds that Hawaii's opportunities
 
10 also represent new challenges.  Businesses, particularly the
 
11 small start-ups associated with high technology, no longer need
 
12 to factor in Hawaii's geographic isolation, but must still
 
13 consider the cost of doing business in the State.  They also face
 
14 a confusing, often overlapping, group of state agencies that
 
15 provide support for technology-related business.  Providing
 
16 targeted assistance to these businesses, as well as a clear focus
 
17 of responsibility within state government for aggressive
 
18 development and support of high technology resources, will better
 
19 serve the burgeoning technology industry.
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        


 1      If Hawaii is to become a state known for leading its people
 
 2 effectively into the twenty-first century, the legislature
 
 3 believes progress and change must begin immediately.
 
 4      The legislature finds that over the years, it has created a
 
 5 number of state agencies charged with promoting the development
 
 6 of a variety of technological industries.  While these agencies
 
 7 provide valuable services, they lack focus, and in some cases,
 
 8 their original missions have changed considerably.  Consolidation
 
 9 of these agencies under a single entity to coordinate their
 
10 activities will provide a more focused effort in attracting high
 
11 technology businesses to Hawaii.
 
12      Thus, Act 178, Session Laws of Hawaii 1999, created the
 
13 position of special advisor for technology development in the
 
14 office of the governor, to develop, coordinate, and implement
 
15 short- and long-range state policies and directions to enhance
 
16 the development of high technology industries in Hawaii; and to
 
17 coordinate all state high technology agencies while developing a
 
18 plan for reorganization or consolidation of these agencies.
 
19      SECTION 2.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to
 
20 effectuate the purposes of this Act.
 
21      SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
22 
 
23                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________
 

 
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