STAND. COM. REP. NO. 704

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1158

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1158 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SPACE CENTER FOR EXPLORATION SYSTEMS SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a means by which the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (Center) may receive and expend funds from sources other than the state budget.

     Specifically, this measure establishes the Pacific international space center for exploration systems special fund to:

(1)  Accept funds generated by the Center from fees, rentals, publications, royalties, and patents;

(2)  Accept gifts, donations, and grants;

(3)  Accept proceeds from revenue bonds issued by the Director of Finance;

(4)  Accept appropriations by the Legislature; and

(5)  Allot funds for use by the Center.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii County Council; Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems; Near Earth LLC; and three concerned individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems does not have a mechanism to receive funds from sources other than the state budget.  In the past, the Center has been forced to forego potential revenue because it could not respond within the performance period of available funding.  Your Committee further finds that establishing a special fund will enable the Center to accept gifts, donations, and grants from non-state organizations, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the various counties.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

     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. 1158, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1158, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair