Bill Text: HI SB1420 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Technology.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [SB1420 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB1420-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1420 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 economic disruption caused by the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has illustrated a need to diversify Hawaii's economy beyond tourism. While the federal government continues to provide billions of dollars to individual states for the purpose of developing economic diversity, the State has failed to lobby sufficiently for such funds even with the current dire state of the economy.
The legislature also finds that the development of a Hawaii diversification and resilience in a vibrant economy program will help the State to recover from this pandemic by utilizing funds from the federal government for the purpose of developing economic diversity.
Significant progress has been made in the past years through programs supported by federal and state initiatives, administered by the Hawaii technology development corporation, but more is required to move Hawaii's technology industry to achieve local technology commercialization and manufacturing. Innovation in science and technology fields will enable the State to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and will also support the State's sustainable economic development goals to include a viable and vibrant technology and manufacturing labor force.
The legislature finds that the small business innovation research and small business technology transfer is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federal research and development that has the potential for commercialization. The Hawaii small business innovation research program provides matching funds to Hawaii-based companies to enhance their project development, compete for the more lucrative awards to conduct prototype development and ultimately reach successful commercialization. These businesses are recognized for advancing technology to solve critical challenges for the nation. The Hawaii technology development corporation provides Hawaii small business innovation research funds in various phases and available funding for this grant program is approved on a yearly basis. Projects in phase 0 receive up to $3,000 in reimbursement for grant writing services. Funds granted in phase one receive up to a fifty per cent match or up to $75,000 of the Federal Phase I award, and Phases II and III provide up to a $500,000.
While successful, the limitation of the current Hawaii small business innovation research program should be expanded. The legislature further finds that the State has not requested and acquired federal funding for economic diversification, including technology commercialization and manufacturing, despite the State's dire economic condition.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Create the Hawaii diversification and resilience in a vibrant economy (HI DRiVE) program and special fund, the purpose of which is to use funds acquired from the federal government to develop economic diversity in the State.
(3) Require the governor to apply for $100,000,000 in economic diversification assistance from the federal government for the creation of the HI DRiVE program.
SECTION 2. Chapter 206M, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§206M- Hawaii diversification and resilience in a vibrant
economy program; established. (a) There
is established within the development corporation, the diversification and resilience
in a vibrant economy program, to provide a grant to any Hawaii-based business that
is eligible for a grant pursuant to section 206M-15.
(b) The development corporation
shall provide a grant to any Hawaii-based business that receives a federal small
business innovation research phase II award or contract from any participating federal
agency, as described in section 206M-15. The grant may be in an amount up to one hundred
per cent of the amount of the federal award or contract; provided that the funds
shall be used for commercialization or manufacturing.
(c) All moneys necessary to carry
out the purposes of this section shall be appropriated by the legislature through
appropriations out of the Hawaii diversification and resilience in a vibrant
economy program special fund.
(d) The development corporation
shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session held in every even-numbered year. The report shall include the following items:
(1) The total number of grants provided pursuant
to this section;
(2) The sectors provided with grants;
(3) The total projected economic and
employment growth facilitated by the grants provided; and
(4) The actual economic and employment growth that occurred as a result of the grants provided.
§206M- Hawaii diversification and resilience in a vibrant economy special fund. There is established in the state treasury a fund to be known as the Hawaii diversification and resilience in a vibrant economy special fund special fund to be administered by the development corporation pursuant to section 206M- , into which shall be deposited all moneys received in economic diversification assistance from the federal government."
SECTION 3. The governor shall apply for $100,000,000 of federal funding for the further development of economic diversity in the creation of the Hawaii diversification and resilience in a vibrant economy program, which shall be deposited into the special fund established pursuant to section 2 of this Act. The program shall encourage Hawaii-based small businesses to engage in economic diversification, including technology commercialization and manufacturing.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Economic Diversification; Hawaii Technology Development Corporation; Hawaii Diversification and Resilience in a Vibrant Economy Program; Special Fund; Federal Funds
Description:
Creates the
Hawaii Diversification and Resilience in a Vibrant Economy Program (HI DRiVE) and
special fund, which requires the Hawaii technology development corporation to build
on small business innovation research phase II awards and use funds to support
phase III efforts to commercialize technology, develop manufacturing
infrastructure, acquire equipment or materials, and support training or quality
systems. Requires the governor to apply
for $100,000,000 in economic diversification assistance from the federal
government for the creation of the HI DRiVE program.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
