STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1736-08

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 Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2480, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs 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 to be allocated to 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 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 Education testified in support of this bill.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2480, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair