Appropriates funds for Project EAST expansion and for the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii to coordinate marketing, with emphasis on representing Hawaii's technology companies and opportunities on the mainland. (SB1698 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that many of the industries that make up Hawaii's broad-based technology sector are showing strong growth and expansion potential. Life science initiatives at the John A. Burns school of medicine and a flurry of technology centers and science initiatives – Mauna Kea astronomy education center, natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority's recently completed gateway energy center, two technology centers in Kauai and Maui – as well as monetary support in excess of $1,000,000,000 in science and technology infrastructure within the last five years have led to unprecedented opportunities in the technology sector. Private technology companies are now in a far better position than in previous years, due in part to changes in state regulatory practices and tax incentives approved by the legislature in 2004.

Building on these opportunities is key to continued expansion in the technology industry. Hawaii's economic development boards are a vital part of the State's outreach efforts in this regard. While the economic development boards have conducted marketing and outreach, building on the "Team Hawaii" concept, they have been unable to participate in most United States mainland exhibitions and conferences due to the lack of funding. The Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Inc., a nonprofit umbrella organization for the four county economic development boards, estimates that the economic development boards miss as many as one hundred United States mainland exhibitions and conferences in which the Hawaii technology story could be presented. Currently, presentations are limited by budget constraints and simply do not match the market emphasis or level of other technology sites such as the Raleigh-Durham triangle, San Antonio, or San Diego, much less Silicon Valley.

Training a technology-savvy workforce is another key component. To help meet this need, Act 218, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, established the Hawaii 3Ts school technology laboratories fund. Modeled after the highly successful Hawaii 3Rs school repair and maintenance fund, the 3Ts fund encourages public-private partnerships for the establishment and maintenance of technology laboratories in Hawaii's public schools.

The 3Ts concept is an expansion of the project EAST (environmental and spatial technology) initiative started as a pilot program in the Maui district high schools during the summer of 2000, that later moved to Hawaii county, and then a middle school on Kauai. Project EAST holds great potential for assisting Hawaii's public schools in developing important critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills in Hawaii's young people that are necessary for these individuals to succeed in high-technology-based jobs. Project EAST integrates cutting-edge technology, such as computer-assisted drafting, geographic information systems, global positioning systems, as well as computer graphic applications, such as soft imaging, into the educational curriculum. The goal of this initiative is to prepare students for the information technology age by providing a comprehensive project-based and student-centered learning program where the students are responsible for their own learning.

Seven Project EAST laboratories have been established in Hawaii – Chiefess Kamakahelei middle school on Kauai; Maui high school, Baldwin high school, King Kekaulike high school, Lahainaluna high school, and Kihei charter school on Maui; and Kea'au high school on Hawaii. Since 2001, Hawaii students have won a number of awards at the National EAST Conference, competing successfully against approximately two hundred schools in six other states.

The Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Inc., is responsible for administering the 3Ts fund, and every dollar of state funds must be matched on a fifty-cents basis in the form of in-kind services or monetary donations by non-state sources.

The purpose of this Act is to assist the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Inc., and the four county economic development boards in their support of Hawaii's growing technology sector.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 for a grant to the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Inc., pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to coordinate marketing, with emphasis on representing Hawaii's technology companies and opportunities on the United States mainland; provided that no funds shall be expended unless matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by funds from other sources.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 for a grant to the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Inc., pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to expand its Project EAST program to four additional schools on the islands of          and          ; provided that no funds shall be expended unless matching funds are provided in the manner specified in section 302A-1314(p), Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated under sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.