2021 Hawaii Revised Statutes
Title 7. Public Officers and Employees
84. Standards of Conduct
84-10 University of Hawaii; technology transfer activities; exemption.

§84-10 University of Hawaii; technology transfer activities; exemption. [Section repealed June 30, 2024. L Sp 2021, c 8, §8.] (a) Sections 84-12, 84-13, 84-14 to 84-16, and 84-18 shall not apply to technology transfer activities sponsored by the University of Hawaii; provided that the technology transfer activities comply with the regulatory framework and research compliance program and policies approved by the board of regents of the University of Hawaii.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the University of Hawaii shall not sponsor, enter into, or continue to engage in technology transfer activities with a private person in which an employee of the University of Hawaii has a conflict of interest as provided in section 84-14, including a financial interest, irrespective of whether the State benefits from the technology transfer activities; provided that the prohibition under this subsection shall not apply if:

(1) The technology transfer activities with the private person promote the timely and efficient commercialization of intellectual property created by basic and applied research at the University of Hawaii;

(2) The State stands to benefit from the technology transfer activities with the private person;

(3) The technology transfer activities with the private person comply with the regulatory framework and research compliance program and policies approved by the board of regents of the University of Hawaii;

(4) The employee's conflict of interest is disclosed at the time of the proposal, and the proposals and binding agreements for each of the technology transfer activities with the private person are reviewed by the state ethics commission to assure compliance with ethics laws;

(5) Any changes to the terms and conditions of the technology transfer activities are reported to the state ethics commission;

(6) The employee with the conflict of interest does not:

(A) Take official action affecting the technology transfer activities with the private person; or

(B) Directly or indirectly supervise an employee when that employee takes official action affecting the technology transfer activities with the private person; and

(7) During the term of the technology transfer activities with the private person, the following employees file annually with the state ethics commission a disclosure of financial interests pursuant to section 84-17:

(A) Employees who have a conflict of interest as provided in section 84-14, including a financial interest, in the private person;

(B) Employees who take official action affecting the technology transfer activities with the private person; and

(C) Employees who directly or indirectly supervise an employee who takes official action affecting the technology transfer activities with the private person.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), any technology transfer activities sponsored by, entered into, or engaged in by the University of Hawaii in violation of subsection (b) is voidable under section 84-16; provided that this subsection shall not apply to contracts for technology transfer activities entered into or extended by the University of Hawaii prior to January 1, 2022.

(d) The University of Hawaii shall file annually with the state ethics commission a disclosure, including its conflict of interest management plan, of any conflict of interest of any employee relating to its technology transfer activities.

(e) As used in this section:

"Person" means any individual, firm, association, organization, sole proprietorship, partnership, company, corporation, joint venture, trust, or any other form of business or legal entity or group of individuals.

"Technology transfer activities" means the process of transferring scientific findings from the public sector to the private sector for the purpose of commercial development and application for personal or financial gain. "Technology transfer activities" may include creating joint ventures, limited partnerships, or other corporate forms; allocating equity shares, partnership interests, or other forms of participation; identifying new technologies; protecting technologies through patents and copyrights; forming development and commercialization strategies, arrangements, or projects; and other related activities. [L 2017, c 38, § §2, 5; am L Sp 2021, c 8, §6]