Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 621 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for providing audio and video streaming of legislative proceedings over the Internet.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Wave Internet, LLC, Common Cause Hawaii, National Federation of Independent Business – Hawaii, Small-Business Economic Revival Force, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that a media streaming program will allow members of the public to listen in on public hearings at a time that is convenient to them. The intent of utilizing this Internet technology is to bridge communications statewide with all islands. This exposure to the legislative proceedings will undoubtedly encourage more public engagement in discussions on the current issues. This would be a very healthy sign of our commitment to our democratic form of government.

Your Committee has amended this measure by appropriating $1 for the purposes of this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 621, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 621, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.