Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1292 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the technology scholarship program to eliminate onerous conditions such as the work, internship, and incumbent worker category requirements to increase participation in the program.

Your Committees heard testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development (DBEDT), and Tourism, and the University of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that this program will encourage Hawaii students to pursue higher education and training in the science and technology fields, thereby increasing the number of trained technology workers and expanding the State's high technology sector. Because this program could help diversify our State's economic base by fostering an industry that is non-polluting and has high growth potential, it is important to allow it flexibility in outreach, recruitment, and program administration.

Your Committees urge the administrators of the scholarship program to track the number of scholarships granted under each category of eligibility and to market the campaign vigorously to aid in recruitment efforts. DBEDT is further encouraged to place a priority on programs involving internships, incumbent workers, and work requirements.

Your Committees have amended the measure by restoring the definitions of "incumbent worker" and "work requirements," and deleting reference to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes. In addition, your Committees provided additional reporting requirements.

This bill is a vehicle for further discussion at this time, in order to establish more concreteness.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Economic Development and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1292, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1292, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.