STAND. COM. REP. NO. 341

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1249

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1249 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Technology Innovation Corporation, a corporation attached to the High Technology Development Corporation, to help create high technology development opportunities in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the High Technology Development Corporation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that a Technology Innovation Corporation would help attract high technology development opportunities to the State.  High technology is an important driver in the diversification of Hawaii's economy and provides quality jobs for Hawaii residents.  Your Committee further finds that a Technology Innovation Corporation would help increase public-private collaboration and create additional opportunities for economic and innovative development.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing a reference to the corporation as a not-for-profit organization;

     (2)  Removing references to two members of the board of directors to be appointed by the President of the Senate and two members to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

     (3)  Increasing the number of directors that the Governor appoints to the board from three to seven members; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1249, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1249, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair