STAND. COM. REP. NO.863
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: S.B. No. 1292
S.D. 2
Honorable Robert Bunda
President of the Senate
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1292, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to restructure the New Economy Technology Scholarship Program to allow more students to participate in the program, which was created to encourage students to pursue education and training in science and technology fields.
Specifically, the bill removes some restrictive conditions that have made implementation of the scholarship program difficult by:
(1) Requiring that lists of approved courses of study be reviewed and updated only as necessary;
(2) Repealing the requirement that:
(A) Work shall begin in Hawaii within a specified time after completion of degree or certificate program; and
(B) If not, the student shall reimburse amounts received;
(3) Specifying which programs shall be priority;
(4) Repealing the requirement that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism adopt rules relating to the program;
(5) Clarifying information to be included in the annual report;
(6) Appropriating funds to establish and implement the program; and
(7) Extending the program's sunset date to June 30, 2006.
The New Economy Technology Scholarship Program was established by Act 237, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, to encourage Hawaii students to pursue education and training needed in the "New Economy" that has emerged in the United States in the last fifteen years, which would, in turn, create a highly trained workforce essential to Hawaii's economic development. The "New Economy" requires a workforce with high technology training, and your Committee finds that Hawaii must support technology growth if we are to compete successfully in the global marketplace of the twenty-first century.
Your Committee finds that removing inhibiting conditions and restrictions relating to the New Economy Technology Scholarship Program will increase student participation in the program, which will lead to improved and diversified economic growth in Hawaii. For this program to help Hawaii's economy, the program itself must be given every chance to succeed. Your Committee believes this bill will increase the likelihood of success for the New Economy Technology Scholarship Program.
Your Committee has amended this bill by changing the amount of the appropriation to $1 and making technical, nonsubstantive changes.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1292, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1292, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
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