SB2333

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there has been a sharp decline in students pursuing careers in the fields of engineering and technology. Educational programs that offer maximum learning opportunities in these fields will ensure that Hawaii's young professionals, Hawaii's next generation of leaders and innovators, are effectively equipped with the specialized knowledge to compete in the global market.

Each year, the International Robot Maze Contest is held in Nagoya, Japan, where traditionally the competition has been made up of and dominated by the top technical high school and universities of Japan, Korea, and Guatemala. While in the past, no high school from the United States has ever entered the contest, this year, seventeen students from the Waiakea High School Robotics Team took their robotic creations to Japan and ended up winning several honors at the competition.

The Waiakea High School Robotics Team competed against thirty-four international teams, including twenty-eight universities. The Team won one category, the "Fully Autonomous Micro Robot Maze Competition," and placed third and fourth in two other categories. The Team also won a "Best Effort" award.

The robotics programs have introduced students to unique educational experiences that will allow them to explore their dreams, careers, and new frontiers in science and technology.

The legislature further finds that expanding the robotics program to the university level will further the opportunities in engineering and technology for Hawaii's young professionals and encourage the technology industry to consider Hawaii as a technology axis for the pacific region.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a robotics task force to research the possibility of creating an institute of robotics within the college of engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the University of Hawaii a robotics task force to research the possibility of creating an institute of robotics within the college of engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The dean of the college of engineering, or the dean's designee, shall be responsible for administering the work of the task force, providing a facilitator, and submitting a report to the legislature. The goals of the task force shall be to:

(1) Research the need to establish an institute of robotics within the college of engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa;

(2) Explore the different opportunities that an institute of robotics could offer to students as well as professors and the interest level of each;

(3) Consider certificates or degrees that could be earned through an institute of robotics;

(4) Look into other universities that have similar programs;

(5) Examine the area of interest that would be most beneficial to Hawaii, including medical or health applications, elderly assistance, military, space exploration, software development, and oceanographic applications; and

(6) Study the costs associated with creating an institute of robotics.

(b) The task force shall establish a timeline by which these goals and tasks shall be accomplished.

(1) The governor or the governor's designee;

(2) The speaker of the Hawaii state house of representatives or the speaker's designee;

(3) The president of the Hawaii state senate or the president's designee;

(4) The president of the University of Hawaii at Manoa or the president's designee;

(5) The director of business, economic development, and tourism or the director's designee;

(6) The dean of the college of engineering at the University of Hawaii or the dean's designee;

(7) One representative from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii;

(8) One representative from Enterprise Honolulu; and

(9) One representative from the Hawaii Science and Technology Council.

(d) The robotics task force may submit its preliminary findings to the legislature by January 1, 2009, and shall submit its final findings and recommendations to the legislature by August 1, 2009.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008, and shall be repealed on January 1, 2010.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2333
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII