Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 157 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support economic diversification and technology industry development by disallowing the depletion of high technology special funds and cuts to program funds of State technology agencies.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and the High Technology Development Corporation.

Your Committee finds that the economy's reaction to the September 11^th terrorist attacks has once again proven our over dependence on the tourism industry. It is vital that we continue to support diverse industries such as high technology that have already proven to make strides for our economy.

Your Committee has amended this measure by requesting high technology industry representatives, i.e., the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, High Technology Development Corporation, Hawaii Technology Trade Association, and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, to set the direction for the high technology industry, rather than request the Legislature to support the high technology industry. In particular, the industry representatives are to come together and develop a directional plan that shall be submitted to the Legislature.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 157, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 157, S.D. 1.