STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3237

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2225

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 2225, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation:

(1) For the Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research Program;

(2) For the Manufacturing Assistance Grant Program; and

(3) To support its accelerator grant program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; JPG Hawaii Inc.; Nalu Scientific, LLC; Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.; Ten Tomorrow; Trutag Technologies, Inc.; Hawaii Fish Company Inc.; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Neurobehavioral Research, Inc.; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Sweet Brown Hawaii; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that due to the budget shortfalls caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, three core grant programs of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation were not funded for the 2021 fiscal year. Your Committee further finds that these programs are crucial to support small businesses engaged in technology innovation, local manufacturing, and start-ups in the State to effectively scale and become competitive in the global market.

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 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. 2225, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2225, 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