STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1769

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 563

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 563, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S SPACE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INITIATIVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy to fund workforce development under the Space Sciences and Engineering Initiative.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System; County of Hawaii, Department of Research and Development; Maunakea Observatories; Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce; Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; Molokai High School; NexTech Hawaii; and twelve individuals.

Your Committee finds that workforce development under the Space Sciences and Engineering Initiative will help to increase opportunities for Hawaii youth to enter into high-paying science, technology, engineering, and math careers in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 563, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair