STAND. COM. REP. NO. 342

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 902

       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. 902 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HIGH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Change the name of the High Technology Development Corporation to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation;

     (2)  Update all references within chapter 201M, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from "high technology" to "technology"; and

     (3)  Repeal the Hawaii Software Service Center established within the High Technology Development Corporation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and High Technology Development Corporation.

     Your Committee finds that changing the High Technology Development Corporation's name will make it easier for the public and the media who already commonly refer to the agency as the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.  Your Committee also finds that with rapid advancements in telecommunication, the Internet, and automation, "high technology" is now simply referred to as "technology"; therefore, updating all references within chapter 201M, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from "high technology" to "technology" is appropriate.  Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Software Service Center has been unfunded for at least ten years and is obsolete.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by 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. 902, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 902, 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,

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GLENN WAKAI, Chair