STAND. COM. REP. NO. 623

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 203
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Business
Concerns, to which was referred H.B. No. 203, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEVELOP A
     NEUROSCIENCE INDUSTRY IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to develop a neuroscience
industry in the State by:

     (1)  Appropriating funds for this purpose; and

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Business, Economic
          Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to facilitate a
          public-private partnership with the Hawaii
          Neuropsychology Community Research Bureau, the
          University of Hawaii (UH) School of Public Health, the
          Commission on the Status of Women, and representatives
          from the business community.

     The UH, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women,
the Hawaii Neuropsychology Community Research Bureau, and three
individuals submitted testimony in support of the measure.  The
DBEDT submitted testimony in support of the intent of the
measure.  


 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 623
                                 Page 2

 
     Due to the specific nature of the bill relating to issues
such as research, public health, medicine, and technology
transfer, your Committee believes that a more appropriate and
qualified entity such as the UH should take the lead in the
effort to develop a neuroscience industry in the State at this
time.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended the
bill by:

     (1)  Changing the expending agency to UH rather than DBEDT;

     (2)  Making UH the lead coordinator in facilitating a
          public-private partnership with regard to developing
          neuroscience in the State; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development and Business Concerns that is
attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the
intent and purpose of H.B. No. 203, H.D. 1, as amended herein,
and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in
the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 203, H.D. 2.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development and Business
                                   Concerns,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair