§227D-2 Establishment of the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority; purpose. (a) There is established the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority, which shall be a body corporate and politic and an instrumentality and agency of the State. The authority shall be placed within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes, pursuant to section 26-35. The purpose of the natural energy laboratory of Hawaii authority shall be to facilitate research, development, and commercialization of natural energy resources and ocean-related research, technology, and industry in Hawaii and to engage in retail, commercial, or tourism activities that will financially support that research, development, and commercialization at a research and technology park in Hawaii. Its duties shall include:
(b) The governing body of the authority shall consist of a board of directors having twelve voting members. Three members from the general public shall be appointed by the governor for staggered terms pursuant to section 26-34, except that one of these members shall be a resident of the county of Hawaii. The members shall be selected on the basis of their knowledge, interest, and proven expertise in, but not limited to, one or more of the following fields: finance, commerce and trade, corporate management, marketing, economics, engineering, energy management, real estate development, property management, aquaculture, and ocean science. The chairperson and secretary of the research advisory committee shall serve on the board. The director of business, economic development, and tourism, the chairperson of the board of land and natural resources, the president of the University of Hawaii, the mayor of the county of Hawaii, and an appointed member from the board of the Hawaii technology development corporation, or their designated representatives, shall serve as ex officio, voting members of the board. The tenants of the authority shall elect two members to the board from among the tenants of the authority, of which one member shall serve a two-year term, and one member shall serve a four-year term. In electing the tenant members, each tenant shall be entitled to cast one vote for each member position. The tenant members shall be recused from voting on setting lease rents, water rates, or utility rates, but may participate in discussions. The director of business, economic development, and tourism shall serve as the chairperson until such time as a chairperson is elected by the board from the membership. The board shall elect other officers as it deems necessary.
(c) The members of the board appointed under subsection (b) shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in the performance of their duties.
(d) The board shall appoint an executive director, who shall serve at the pleasure of the board and shall be exempt from chapter 76. The board shall set the salary and duties of the executive director. [L 1990, c 224, pt of §3; am L 1993, c 252, §2; am L 1997, c 151, §2 and c 193, §2; am L 1999, c 38, §2; am L 2000, c 253, §150 and c 297, §31; am L 2009, c 104, §1; am L 2017, c 69, §4; am L 2019, c 56, §9]