STAND. COM. REP. NO.  262

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 71

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 71 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGH TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support high technology development and innovation in the State by requiring the University of Hawaii to extend the current land lease agreement with the High Technology Development Corporation for a period of at least 25 years from the expiration date of the existing lease.

The Hawaii Innovation Alliance; High Technology Development Corporation; 3D Innovations; Hawaii Consortium for Medicine and Health; Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponic Association; Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation; Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association; Kuehnle AgroSystems, Inc.; SOS Tech Solutions; AMEL Technologies, Inc.; Archinoetics; Ohana Investment Works LLC; Sanjole Inc.; Renewable Water Technologies LLC; Curtis Consulting LLC; Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.; Asia Pacific Films; Hawaii Venture Capital Association; and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The University of Hawaii opposed this measure.

     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. 71 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,

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair