STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3376

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2500

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2500 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for the Small Business Innovation Research Program, Manufacturing Assistance Program, and Excelerator Program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Oceanlit Laboratories, Inc.; Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.; Ko Bakery; NMG Network; Aloha Edibles, Inc.; TeleVoice 2000; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Experiad Solutions; Mana Up; Elemental Excelerator; Purple Maia Foundation; Shifted Energy; Hawaii Fish Company, Inc.; Neurobehavioral Research, Inc.; Adnoviv, Inc.; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaiian Chip Company, LLC; Ten Tomorrow; and six individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation helps to grow and sustain the State's manufacturing industry and small business community and that these businesses are critical to the State's economy.

 

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Providing that the funds appropriated for the Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research Program, Manufacturing Assistance Program, and Excelerator Program shall not be released to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation unless certain previous appropriations are encumbered;

 

(2)  Establishing and appropriating funds for a working group to develop a strategic plan for a climate innovation technology park to be located on Coconut Island and to recommend other opportunities for the State to invest in technology to combat climate change;

 

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

(4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committee notes that the working group shall provide to the Legislature, no later than December 31, 2021, a timeline for the development and completion of its strategic plan.  Your Committee also notes that the working group established and funded by this measure will help the State meet both environmental and economic goals by exploring the possibility of developing a climate innovation technology park and other opportunities for the State to invest in technology to combat climate change.

 

     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 S.B. No. 2500, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2500, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair