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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADVISORY COUNCIL TO STUDY
   ISSUES RELATING TO ENCOURAGING AND ATTRACTING THE
   DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGH TECHNOLOGY BIOSCIENCE
   RESEARCH IN THE STATE.



 1       WHEREAS, from 1990 to the present, Hawaii's economy has
 2   experienced a period of unprecedented stagnation, marking the
 3   end of post-statehood growth, which was fueled largely by
 4   tourism and capital investment; and
 5   
 6       WHEREAS, the legislative and the administrative branches of
 7   state government have recognized the critical importance of
 8   developing a bold and innovative strategy to help revitalize
 9   Hawaii's stagnant economy; and
10   
11       WHEREAS, an important component of this strategy is to
12   develop new and expand existing businesses in Hawaii's
13   technology sectors; and
14   
15       WHEREAS, in concert with these goals, the Governor has made
16   a technology-based strategy for development a high priority in
17   the Administration; and
18   
19       WHEREAS, Hawaii is endowed with strategic environmental,
20   human, and technological resources and capabilities that
21   already have established Hawaii's global leadership in such
22   areas as astronomy, renewable energy, environmental technology,
23   healthcare, information technology, ocean and research
24   development, remote sensing, and telecommunications; and
25   
26       WHEREAS, many of these same resources make Hawaii an ideal
27   location for both scientific studies and broad commercial
28   applications in marine, agricultural, environmental, and
29   medical biotechnology; and
30   
31       WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii and local biotechnology
32   companies are conducting basic and applied research in
33   molecular and nuclear biology, immunochemistry, botanical
34   genetics, and other areas, that, to date, have led to the
35   successful cloning of mice, genetic engineering of disease-
36   resistant fruits and decaffeinated coffee beans, and other
37   pioneering achievements; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       WHEREAS, for local researchers and companies to realize the
 2   full commercial benefits of this innovation, their intellectual
 3   property rights must be clearly established and protected; and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, Hawaii's residents should have access to cutting-
 6   edge medical developments through potential participation in
 7   clinical trials and genetic research, which are fast becoming
 8   the cornerstone of pharmaceutical development; and
 9   
10       WHEREAS, investments in high-technology bioscience research
11   can pay for themselves many times over in employment growth,
12   the tax revenue base, and economic development of a "clean"
13   industry, that, unlike smokestacks of the past, will enhance
14   Hawaii's unique position worldwide; now, therefore,
15   
16       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
17   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
18   of 2000, the Senate concurring, that the Governor's Special
19   Advisor for Technology Development is requested to establish an
20   advisory council within the Office of the Governor to study
21   legal, economic, and other pertinent issues relating to
22   encouraging and attracting the development of public and
23   private high technology bioscience research in the State; and
24   
25       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the advisory council may
26   include representatives of research-based agricultural
27   companies, research-based pharmaceutical companies, other high-
28   technology companies, business development interests, food
29   manufacturers, intellectual property attorneys, the University
30   of Hawaii, Bishop Museum, and other interested parties; and
31   
32       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the advisory council submit a
33   report of its findings and recommendations, including any
34   proposed legislation, regarding:
35   
36       (1)  The adequacy of intellectual property and trade secret
37            protection available to bioscientific innovations;
38   
39       (2)  The modification of any current legal provisions that
40            serve as inappropriate restrictions or disincentives
41            to bioscience research; and
42   
43       (3)  Research and tax incentives needed to attract and
44            encourage high technology bioscience research in the
45            State;
46   
47   to the Governor and the Legislature no later than twenty days
48   prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2001; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 2   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and the
 3   Governor's Special Advisor for Technology Development.