Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Science, Arts, and Technology, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 109 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request a study on the feasibility of using open source software versus commercial software for government operations.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Accounting and General Services (Department), and eight individuals representing the information technology industry involved in the use of open source software. The Department of Accounting and General Services, however, expressed concerns about a lack of adequate resources to conduct a feasibility study of this breadth, but expressed willingness to conduct exploratory research into the use of open source software.

Your Committee finds that the potential cost savings from the use of open source software for certain state government functions is an important consideration at a time when our State is faced with ongoing fiscal constraints. Thus, your Committee agrees that the Comptroller, within available resources, should undertake an exploratory cost-benefit analysis of the use of commercial software versus open source software. Your Committee further believes that the Comptroller should adopt a statewide policy regarding the use of open source software to ensure that these applications comply with established criteria governing the use of such applications and to ensure that the integrity of secure government information and systems are not compromised.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Science, Arts, and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 109, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 109, S.D. 1.