STAND. COM. REP. NO. 71-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2090

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2090 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove the sunset provision of Act 39, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, making permanent the Innovation and Commercialization Initiative Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure form the University of Hawaii System; Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Hawaii Business Roundtable; Adnoviv, Inc.; Spectrum Photonics; Radial 3D Inc.; Mana Up; Hawaii Venture Capital Association; Elemental Excelerator; and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that Act 39, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017 (Act 39), provided the University of Hawaii with express statutory authority to enable and facilitate the deployment of university educational and instructional resources, university managerial and fiscal resources, and university personnel to promote the economic health and diversification of workforce opportunities in the State through the commercialization of inventions and discoveries generated by or at the university. With Act 39, the Innovation and Commercialization Initiative Program within the University of Hawaii was established. According to Act 39, this authority is set to be repealed on June 30, 2021. This measure will continue the efforts of the Innovation and Commercialization Initiative Program in promoting economic health diversifying the workforce by removing the repeal date in Act 39, making the program permanent.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2090, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2090, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair