STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1124

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 997

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 997, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC ARCHIVES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the duties of the State Archivist.

     More specifically, this measure:

(1)  Requires the State Archivist to administer a digital archive program;

(2)  Establishes the state archivist preservation and long-term access special fund for the preservation and long-term access to government records;

(3)  Requires that all fees collected by the State Archives be deposited into the state archivist preservation and long-term access special fund; and

(4)  Authorizes the State Archivist to charge a fee for certain documents filed or registered by the public.

The Department of Accounting and General Services submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that establishing a centralized location for digital records will reduce costs by eliminating duplicate government services, as well as improve services to the public.  A single location for digital records will also assist agencies with long-term storage needs and archival requirements.  Your Committee further finds that revenues from the state archives preservation and long-term access special fund will help to ensure that records of historical, cultural, and intellectual value will be properly maintained and accessible to future generations.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 997, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 997, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair