STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2755

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2860

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2860, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A TECHNOLOGY MASTER PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a science and technology task force, attached to the University of Hawaii, to develop a state master plan for science and technology.

     Additionally, this measure requires the task force to complete a preliminary plan and report prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009, and to submit updated reports every two years thereafter.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the University of Hawaii system, the Board of Education, and the Hawaii Science and Technology Council.  Comments on the measure were submitted by the High Technology Development Corporation.

     Your Committee finds that a well-conceived master plan will provide direction for the State in making programmatic and fiscal decisions related to the growing technology industry.

     Your Committee has amended the findings section of this measure by correcting an error relating to the duration of the grant award.  Your Committee also made technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2860, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2860, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair