STAND. COM. REP. NO.  119-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2683

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 2683 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to promote expansion and diversification of Hawaii's economy by supporting the high technology industry.  Specifically, this measure works to retain and attract talented individuals to work in Hawaii by appropriating funds to the High Technology Development Corporation to develop a program to attract out-of-state software programmers and other high technology workers to work in Hawaii.

 

     The High Technology Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii testified in support of the intent of this measure.  A concerned individual testified in opposition.

 

     The growth, development, and prosperity of the high technology industry in Hawaii helps to drive expansion and diversification of Hawaii's economy.  The expansion and proliferation of this sector helps the State adapt to an ever-changing economic and technological landscape and prepare for the future.  However, one barrier to growth of the high technology industry in Hawaii is the disconnect between the availability and creation of high wage technology sector jobs and the expansion of the labor force to fill these positions.  Your Committee finds that this measure works to address this issue.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2683, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2683, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor & Public Employment.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, Chair