0Report Title:

New Economy Transition (NET); Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates money for the New Economy Transition (NET) program.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

678

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to technology.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the use of technology, particularly the Internet, is becoming businesses' best marketing tool and their greatest source of competition. The greatest risk for Hawaii businesses that do not participate in a technology-based economy is that they will be left behind.

While some businesses participate in the new economy and make use of system modernization and skills training, most businesses lack sufficient time and resources to learn about the information-technology revolution. As a result, these businesses are prevented from using technology to increase productivity, to work faster and more efficiently, to create a more flexible, less hierarchical style of doing business, and from being as competitive as they could be.

The legislature finds that the new economy transition (NET) program, a concept patterned after the agricultural extension programs, is available to help Hawaii businesses transition to the new economy and foster collaborative partnerships. The NET program serves as a conduit for technology education and advisory services, using many of the excellent resources offered by the State, the private sector, and other organizations.

The greatest asset of the NET program is the outreach component, whereby a program technician, instead of a business, initiates the dialogue to identify the unique obstacles of the business and to determine the process to overcome those obstacles. Solutions include educational seminars on the benefits of applying technology to existing business processes, advisory services to develop planning and the implementation of technology business plans, a menu of training courses offered by qualified providers, interactive tools or a technology showcase, or simply distributing information materials.

Businesses benefit from the NET program because of a greater access to technology programs and sources of funding, increased productivity and efficiency, and the ability to compete both locally and globally. Government benefits from the NET program because of increased participation in the new economy, greater employment opportunities, higher tax revenue, increased global competitiveness, and a more highly skilled work force.

The purpose of this Act is to help Hawaii businesses transition to a technology-based economy by appropriating funds for the NET program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the sum of $200,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for the NET program.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.

INTRODUCED BY:

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