STAND. COM. REP. NO. 599-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2139

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 Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 2139 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to support certain programs of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Oceanit; Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Mana Up; Hawaii Venture Capital Association; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that manufacturing is critical to the State's economy. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation is a key state agency in the development and support of the State's manufacturing industry. The Small Business Innovation Research Program, Manufacturing Assistance Program, and Excelerator Program were created by the Legislature and have been very successful in supporting the manufacturing industry and providing jobs in the State. This measure appropriates funds to continue to support these programs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amounts appropriated for the Small Business Innovation Research Program, Manufacturing Assistance Program, and Excelerator Program to unspecified amounts; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee finds that both the Small Business Innovation Research Program and Manufacturing Assistance Program, which were legislatively created, have been a great success. Besides economic activity, these programs have boosted other areas, such as agriculture and tourism, and as such have had a multiplier effect.

Should your Committee on Finance decide to hear this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $10,000,000 each to the Small Business Innovation Research Program, Manufacturing Assistance Program, and Excelerator Program.

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. 2139, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2139, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair