STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2731

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2333

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2333, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group to study the feasibility of establishing an Institute of Robotics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the University of Hawai‘i System, and six individuals.

     Your Committee finds that to move Hawaii forward to succeed in this new millennium requires a dedication to supporting innovation and technology and growing a qualified workforce to support these areas.  Competition in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) has escalated throughout the world, and Hawaii needs to invest in the education and training of our students to ensure that they will succeed in the workforce.  Accordingly, last year, the Legislature enacted Act 111, Session Laws of 2007, which sought to create a system of STEM academies for students in middle and high school and other related programs to ensure preparedness of students for post-secondary education and beyond.  In keeping with this vision, several high schools throughout the State have established successful robotics programs that have allowed students to develop skills and explore careers in the STEM fields.  However, increased opportunities are necessary to allow students to pursue education and careers in these fields and establish Hawaii as a technology axis for the Pacific Region. 

     This measure establishes a working group to examine the feasibility of creating an Institute of Robotics within the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Your Committee determines that this measure allows the State to look at the different ways in which appropriate programs can be developed and funded to concentrate and maximize state resources to increase and grow a highly-skilled, highly-qualified workforce.

     The University of Hawaii raised concerns regarding its ability to conduct a feasibility study on an Institute of Robotics and requested amendments to broaden the scope of the issue to allow the University to appropriately explore increased opportunities for individuals to pursue specialized education and careers in robotics.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Broadening the scope of the study be requiring the working group to discuss the feasibility of establishing within the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaii at Manoa an Institute of Robotics or a related institute or program with consideration of the appropriate background science and technology fields, and application areas, on which an institute or other program will focus; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and to reflect preferred drafting style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2333, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2333, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair