STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3122

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 74
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Government Operations and Housing, to
which was referred S.C.R. No. 74 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING ALL EXECUTIVE
     DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO SUBMIT REPORTS TO THE
     LEGISLATURE ON-LINE AND REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES TO STUDY OTHER MEANS OF
     REDUCING PAPER USAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase environmental
responsibility by reducing paper usage within the state
government to help foster a paperless government.

     This measure:

     (1)  States that the Department of Accounting and General
          Services (DAGS) is charged with the responsibility of
          establishing, coordinating, and managing a program
          allowing public access to public information via an
          information network under Section 26-6, Hawaii Revised
          Statutes;

     (2)  States that, also under Section 26-6, DAGS is charged
          with the responsibility of developing and operating
          this information network and with improving data,
          voice, and video communications in state government;


 
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     (3)  Requests all executive departments and agencies to
          submit reports to the Legislature on-line; and

     (4)  Requests DAGS to study other means of reducing paper
          usage by state departments and agencies through the use
          of technologies such as electronic mail.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the
Department of Accounting and General Services.

     Your Committee finds that although reducing paper usage is
an important goal, this measure presents a problem with respect
to implementation.  Currently, a disparity exists in the levels
of technology and the compatibility of networks utilized by State
agencies.  The agencies which do not have the same technological
resources as other agencies should be given time to acquire these
resources.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that global warming and the depletion of the
          ozone layer are not related and that reducing
          deforestation would help reduce the effects of global
          warming; and

     (2)  Requesting the Department of Accounting and General
          Services to report its findings and recommendations to
          the Legislature and the State agencies and departments
          no later than December 1, 2000; and

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Government Operations and Housing that is attached
to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and
purpose of S.C.R. No. 74, as amended herein, and recommends that
it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form
attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 74, S.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Government
                                   Operations and Housing,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ROD TAM, Chair

 
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