STAND. COM. REP. NO. 968

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 595

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 595, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to continue the small business innovation research program within the High Technology Development Corporation.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the High Technology Development Corporation; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Navatek; Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.; Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.; OmniGreen Renewables LLC; Experiad Solutions; Kampachi Farms, LLC; Spectrum Photonics; Studio Kinection, Inc.; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaii Evolutionary Development, LLC; Reef Capital Ventures; Hawaii Fish Company; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the High Technology Development Corporation is a key state agency in developing and supporting the innovation industry in the State and has been providing Phase I matching grants to companies awarded federal Small Business Innovation Research program grants since 1989.  In 2016, the High Technology Development Corporation began awarding Phase II and Phase III matching grants, and there were more eligible applicants than available funds.  Your Committee finds that in 2016, the Legislature extended the lapse date of a previous appropriation and appropriated additional funding for the Hawaii small business innovation research program within the High Technology Development Corporation.  Your Committee further finds that continuing the program and supporting small businesses through commercialization assistance are important to the innovation industry in the State.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 595, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology,

 

 

 

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair