STAND. COM. REP. NO.  788

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1282

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1282, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a laser optical communications ground station (Station) in Hawaii by appropriating funds for an engineering assessment and study for the Station to be conducted jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems.  The study would lead to infrastructure construction of the Station beginning in 2016, and appropriations made in this measure would be subject to matching federal funding.  

The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, a Hawaii County Council Member, and two individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs commented on this measure.

     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 H.B. No. 1282, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair