Report Title:

New Economy Transition Program

 

Description:

Appropriates $300,000 for FY 2001-2002 and $200,000 for FY 2002-2003 for the new economy transition program.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

422

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE NEW ECONOMY TRANSITION PROGRAM.

 

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 stifled 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 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 new economy transition 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 new economy transition program is the outreach component, whereby a program technician, instead of the business, initiates the dialog 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 informational materials.

Businesses benefit from the new economy transition 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 new economy transition 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 new economy transition 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 new economy transition 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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