STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1292

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 610

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 610, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to amend the Hawaii State Planning Act to include references to defense, dual-use, and science and technology assets to help Hawaii grow and develop these sectors of its economy.

     This measure also requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to report annually to the Legislature on the growth of emerging growth industries in Hawaii and to develop updated measurements and analyses.

Your Committee received two written comments on this measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature’s website.

Your Committee finds that the growth of the science and technology industry in Hawaii is crucial to the State's successful development of ocean engineering, aerospace research and development, and related dual-use technologies.  Your Committee believes that the State should make the expansion of these industries a priority in its planning.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2099, to facilitate further discussion.

     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 H.B. No. 610, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 610, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair