STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1549

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 847

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 847, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESEARCH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Innovation and Commercialization Initiative Program to expressly give the University of Hawaii the legal authority to create, finance, and participate in new economic enterprises and expand workforce opportunities based on inventions and discoveries generated by or at the University.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Hawaii Venture Capital Association, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, XLR8UH, Sultan Ventures, and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office, Hawaii State Ethics Commission, Office of Information Practices, and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that the Legislature has a history of authorizing and providing funds to support efforts by state agencies to promote entrepreneurial development, support research commercialization, and provide access to startup investment capital.  Commercialization contributes to a more diverse workforce in the State and promotes a robust and dynamic economy.  The University of Hawaii is a research and teaching institution and is in a valuable position to identify promising innovations and new discoveries arising from university research.  In order to remain competitive with its peers, the University of Hawaii must develop its capacity to commercialize its intellectual property.  This measure will allow the University to undertake commercialization activity with greater legal certainty and clarity.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting language that exempts any advisory committee appointed by the University of Hawaii in implementing the Innovation and Commercialization Initiative Program from being subject to chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 847, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 847, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair