STAND. COM. REP. NO.  89

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1617

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1617 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help facilitate the growth and expansion of research efforts at the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH-Hilo), thereby stimulating science and technology business in the state.  Specifically, this bill establishes at UH-Hilo the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, which is to serve as the overarching institutional focal point for the coordination of all undergraduate and graduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics mentorship programs and the integration of ongoing and future research projects.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Kanoelehua Industrial Area Association, Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, and Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The University of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly offered comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1617 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair