STAND. COM. REP. NO. 633

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1249

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1249 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CYBERSECURITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to support cybersecurity and data science programs at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, University of Hawai‘i System, and six individuals.

Your Committees find that cybersecurity is in high demand across the State. To increase local applicants' ability to compete for high-paying jobs within the industry, a workforce pipeline that couples educational opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials with hands-on experience is critical. The Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research at the University of Hawaii Maui College is positioned to develop this workforce pipeline through its cybersecurity guidance, training, and workforce development activities. Therefore, to help support workforce development and economic diversification throughout the State, this measure appropriates funds to support cybersecurity and data science programs at the University of Hawaii Maui College, including for laboratories and equipment, laboratory assistants, and lecture support.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1249, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1249, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Labor and Technology,

________________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair