STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1128

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 847

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 847, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESEARCH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the innovation and commercialization initiative program to expressly grant the University of Hawaii the authority to enable and facilitate the deployment of university educational and instructional resources, university managerial and fiscal resources, and university personnel to promote the economic health and diversification of workforce opportunities through the commercialization of inventions and discoveries generated by or at the University of Hawaii.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, High Technology Development Corporation, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Business Roundtable, and one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the State Procurement Office and Common Cause Hawaii.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices, Hawaii State Ethics Commission, and Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter.

     Your Committees find that the Legislature has a history of authorizing and providing funds to support efforts by state agencies to promote entrepreneurial development, support research commercialization, and provide access to startup investment capital.  Commercialization contributes to a more diverse workforce in the State which benefits the public by promoting a robust and dynamic economy.

     Your Committees additionally find that the University of Hawaii is a research and teaching institution with the unique ability to identify promising innovations and new discoveries arising from university research.  In order to remain competitive with its peers, the University of Hawaii must develop its capacity to encourage technology transfer and commercialize its intellectual property.  Your Committees find that this measure will support the University's technology transfer programs by allowing the University to undertake commercialization activity with greater legal certainty and clarity.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 847, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair