STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3668

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1912

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 1912, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SPACE CENTER FOR EXPLORATION SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for administrative purposes;

(2) Amend the composition of the Board of Directors of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems;

(3) Create and appropriate funds for an unspecified amount of exempt positions within the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems; and

(4) Transfer the rights, powers, functions, and duties of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems from the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems; Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.; and sixteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii plays an important role in the development of the aerospace industry, given Hawaii's location and resident expertise in a broad range of aerospace-related technologies. The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) is currently administratively attached to the Office of Aerospace Development within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Your Committee further finds that PISCES is entering a period of transition in which it will be making modifications to move from contracting with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii for operational matters to having operational services provided by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. This measure will make the necessary adjustments and modifications that will enable the transition to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to allow the program to continue to operate.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the unspecified appropriation for an unspecified amount of full-time equivalent employees within the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems;

(2) Making this measure effective upon its approval; and

(3) 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1912, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1912, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair