STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1280-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2480

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2480, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE AND DEVELOPMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to develop Hawaii's technology workforce by:

(1)  Establishing the Science Technology and Education Special Fund (Special Fund) within the University of Hawaii (UH) System, to hold appropriations, private contributions, and other funding for science-, technology-, engineering-, and math-related programs;

(2)  Appropriating general funds into the Special Fund for the Robotics and Problem-based, Applied Learning Program, and the Research Experiences for Teachers Program;

(3)  Appropriating general funds to be deposited into the Hawaii 3Ts School Technology Laboratories Fund to provide matching funds for the Project Environmental and Spatial Technology program;

(4)  Appropriating federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program funds and general funds for science-, technology-, engineering-, and math-related programs and K-12 creative media education programs; and

(5)  Appropriating general funds for K-12 creative media programs.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH-Manoa), Hawaii Center for Advanced Communications at the UH-Manoa College of Engineering, Referentia Systems Incorporated, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, educators in the Searider Productions integrated journalism and digital media education program at Waianae High School, Moanalua High School production staff, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Human Services (DHS), and HiTech Quest offered comments.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by changing the appropriation for science-, technology-, engineering-, and math-related programs and K-12 creative media education programs as follows:

     (1)  Changing the source of funds from TANF Program funds to general revenues; and

     (2)  Changing the expending agency from DHS to DBEDT.

Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Human Services & Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2480, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2480, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Human Services & Housing,

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair

____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair