STAND. COM. REP. NO.  267

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1064

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1064 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the University of Hawaii to continue its contribution to research commercialization and economic development by repealing the sunset provision in Act 38, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System and Hawaii Business Roundtable.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission.

 

     Your Committee notes that in 2017, the Legislature supported the University of Hawaii's efforts to promote the commercialization of inventions and discoveries generated by the University's faculty, students, and alumni.  Act 38, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, which sunsets on June 30, 2022, exempted University of Hawaii-sponsored technology transfer activities from specific sections of the State Ethics Code as long as the technology transfer activities complied with the regulatory framework and research compliance program and policies approved by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents.

 

     Your Committee finds that on August 20, 2020, the Board of Regents adopted Regents Policy RP 12.211, "Ethical Guidelines in the Conduct of Technology Transfer Activities".  On October 16, 2020, the University of Hawaii President approved an executive policy to implement the Board of Regents' policy.  Your Committee finds that repealing the June 30, 2022, sunset date will enable the University of Hawaii to continue to regulate conflicts of interest and other ethical issues for the technology transfer activities it sponsors.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1064, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1064, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair