STAND. COM. REP. NO.958

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 678

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 678, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage the use and development of technology by government and the private sector.

Specifically, this bill:

(1) Appropriates funds to the new economy transition program;

(2) Requires conversion to electronic copy of all legislative documents and state agency reports received by the Legislature and electronic bill payment by the administration;

(3) Prohibits allocation of funds by the Governor for new research or technology parks until infrastructure on all existing research and technology parks subject to legislative appropriations is completed;

(4) Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds to extend the community-based economic development loan and grant program to information technology to distressed rural areas; and

(5) Establishes a high technology task force to establish goals and an implementation plan to develop high technology in Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that a technology-wise local business community and a resident workforce with education and training in technological skills are crucial to the future growth of our economy. This measure supports those goals by increasing access and participation in technology programs. It directs the use and application of technology by requiring the Legislature to convert to electronic documents and mandates the administration to apply technology to bill payment.

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. 678, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair