STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2972

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3191

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3191, S.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 and intent of this measure is to permanently authorize the University of Hawaii to continue to regulate conflicts of interest and other ethical issues for technology transfer activities sponsored by the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that Act 38, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017 (Act 38), provided the University of Hawaii with the authority to comport technology transfer activities with principles embodied in the State Ethics Code regarding commercialization of inventions and discoveries made by students, faculty, and alumni. Act 8, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, established a sunset date of June 30, 2024, for requirements established by Act 38. However, the University of Hawaii has since taken a proactive approach to codify compliance requirements. Therefore, this measure allows the University of Hawaii to become an innovator and driver of economic development through the transformation of inventions and discoveries into commercially viable products and businesses.

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 S.B. No. 3191, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair