STAND. COM. REP. NO. 887

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 834

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 834, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VIDEOCONFERENCING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an audiovisual conferencing system for use by the Legislature.

     More specifically, this measure requires both chambers of the Legislature to adopt rules to establish procedures to enable neighbor island residents to present oral testimony at legislative committee hearings through the use of audiovisual technology.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Ulupono Initiative, Common Cause Hawaii, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and two individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board.

     Your Committee finds that it is often a severe financial hardship for neighbor island residents to actively participate in the legislative process.  Your Committee recognizes that this measure is a necessary first step toward using remote testimony technology to allow more residents of the State to participate and have their voices heard, but also notes that there are both operational and technical issues that must first be worked through as the Legislature looks at implementing such a program.  Your Committee believes that the appropriate next step is directing the Legislative Reference Bureau to do a feasibility study, including associated costs for the implementation of audiovisual technology in both chambers of the Legislature.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Replacing language that would establish an audiovisual program within both chambers of the Legislature with a provision requiring the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on the feasibility and costs associated with implementing such a program;

(2)  Making an unspecified appropriation to the Legislative Reference Bureau for the purpose of conducting the study; and

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 834, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 834, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair