STAND. COM. REP. NO. 680-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2256

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2256, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the availability of certain exemptions from the State Ethics Code regarding technology transfer activities sponsored by the University of Hawaii to June 30, 2025.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Business Roundtable, and Blue Startups. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission and Adnoviv, Inc.

Your Committee finds that Act 38, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017 (Act 38), clarified and updated the application of the State Ethics Code to technology transfer activities sponsored by the University of Hawaii, which facilitated the Universityꞌs contributions to research commercialization and economic development. However, Act 38 is set to repeal on June 30, 2022. Your Committee finds that it is a matter of statewide concern to support the timely and efficient commercialization of intellectual property created by basic and applied research at the University of Hawaii. Therefore, extending repeal date of Act 38 will allow the University to continue its contributions to research commercialization and economic development.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2256, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2256, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair