HB1873 HD1

Report Title:

Education; Technology Development; Private Sector Involvement

 

Description:

Requires the Hawaii Technology Trade Association to report to the legislature prior to the regular sessions of 2003 and 2004. (HB1873 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1873
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to technology.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the American Electronics Association has ranked Hawaii forty-eighth in the number of technology-related jobs and forty-first in the amount of technology research and development spending per capita. Worldwide spending on information technology services is projected to double to $1,400,000,000,000 by 2005, led by the Asia-Pacific region. However, Hawaii has had an average of fewer than three hundred annual job openings in the information technology sector between 1996 and 2001.

Recent technology-related layoffs on the mainland have contributed to a growing skilled labor pool available for expanding the technology-related industries in Hawaii. The State already has a $1,800,000,000 technology core based at the University of Hawaii, the Maui supercomputing center, and at Mauna Kea. The arrival of technology sector businesses from the mainland will stimulate further in-state technology development. However, tax incentives recently passed by the legislature must be supplemented by a reversal of Hawaii's business image as lacking in skilled labor and venture capital. This can be achieved through more intensive and improved advertising by Hawaii's high-tech business leaders.

One organization that has been involved in fostering and facilitating the growth of the technology industry in Hawaii is the Hawaii Technology Trade Association (HTTA). HTTA represents over six hundred fifty members of Hawaii's technology industry and has been working diligently to create a healthy economic, educational, and governmental environment in which Hawaii's technology businesses may thrive.

HTTA has collaborated closely with the department of business, economic development, and tourism, as well as the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and economic development boards to further its goals to stimulate Hawaii's technology industry. Recently, HTTA has worked with these agencies and organizations on a grassroots planning program called "Speak Out," which is designed to create "action teams" to expand Hawaii's technology industry.

The students of the Hawaii State Student Council and those who have participated in the Hawaii State Student Conference have supported the efforts of HTTA. Some of these students have noted that their prospects for finding good jobs in Hawaii are marginal at best, and the development of a thriving technology industry would help to create more high-quality employment opportunities for those who will soon be entering the workforce.

The legislature recognizes the excellent work that HTTA is doing in the area of technology and would like to remain apprised of HTTA's progress. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require HTTA to submit an annual report to the legislature prior to the regular sessions of 2003 and 2004.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Technology Trade Association shall submit reports on the progress of its public-private efforts to foster the growth of the technology industry in Hawaii to the governor and to the legislature at least twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2003 and 2004.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.