STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 401
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 563
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 563 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S SPACE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INITIATIVE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce; Maunakea Scholars; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; Maunakea Observatories; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.
Your Committee finds that there is a need in the State for long-term science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce development programs to foster a sustainable and economically diverse base for advanced-technology-sector companies. Your Committee further finds that investing funds into the University of Hawaii at Manoa Institute for Astronomy's space science and engineering initiative will grow the pool of Hawaii's workforce in the STEM field and is critical for the continued growth and success of the State's economy and its people.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the amounts appropriated and positions to be funded to unspecified amounts;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to appropriate an amount of $650,000, to be allocated as follows:
(1) $400,000 for salaries and fringe benefits for the following positions:
(A) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) University of Hawaii space science and engineering initiative workforce development program manager;
(B) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Maunakea Scholars program coordinator; and
(C) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative clerk for the University of Hawaii space science and engineering initiative workforce development program; and
(2) $250,000 for office equipment and supplies, operational costs, and internship stipends for high school and college students.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 563, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 563, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,
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____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair |
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