STAND. COM. REP. NO. 75

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 617

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. 617 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY GRANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support research, development, and innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by establishing a research and technology grant program to be administered by the High Technology Development Corporation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, High Technology Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Navatek, and six individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Association for Industrial-Organizational Psychology.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office.

     Your Committee finds that fostering education and job creation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is vital to the State.  Your Committee also finds that the Legislature appropriates funds annually to education in these fields, but that education alone will not produce the jobs necessary for Hawaii youth and residents to thrive in those fields.  Therefore, your Committee finds that establishing a research and technology grant program will be a positive way to nurture and cultivate educational opportunities and innovative economic growth through supporting technology companies.

     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. 617 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair