STAND. COM. REP. NO. 117-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2709

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 2709 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to position Hawaii as a leader in technology development, transfer, and commercialization by:

(1) Establishing a Hawaii Innovation and Technology Authority to support and grow Hawaii's innovation and technology industry through a variety of means; and

(2) Appropriating funds for the operations of the Authority.

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Ibis Networks, Oahu Economic Development Board, Oceanit, Oahu County Committee Legislative Priorities Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and a few concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, and Hawaii Technology Development Corporation provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing the Hawaii Innovation and Technology Authority as a corporation, rather than an authority, and renaming it the Hawaii Innovation and Technology Research Corporation;

(2) Inserting language establishing the purpose of the Hawaii Innovation and Technology Research Corporation;

(3) Establishing the powers of the Hawaii Innovation and Technology Research Corporation;

(4) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to facilitate further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2709, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2709, 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,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair