HB2264

SECTION 1. Chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new sections to part VII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§27- Executive office on broadband development; established; functions. (a) There is established an executive office on broadband development in the office of the governor.

(b) There shall be a director of the executive office on broadband development, hereinafter referred to as director. The director shall be experienced in broadband development. The governor shall appoint and may remove the director without regard to chapter 76.

(1) Advocate for the adoption of public policies that remove barriers to broadband infrastructure deployment;

(2) Develop broadband investment and deployment strategies for unserved and underserved geographic areas in the State;

(3) Promote private sector, public sector, and cooperative broadband solutions;

(4) Support and promote local and regional broadband planning;

(5) Promote technology and service provider neutrality by focusing on desired outcomes rather than specific technological solutions;

(6) Pursue and leverage federal sources of broadband funding to achieve state goals related to broadband;

(7) Manage and award funds allocated to the executive office on broadband development for broadband projects;

(8) Engage with stakeholders representing various interests to facilitate communication and collect information necessary to support a business case for broadband investments; provided that stakeholders shall include:

(A) Elected officials;

(B) Government officials;

(D) Educators;

(E) Leaders within the business community;

(F) Leaders within the agricultural community; and

(G) Broadband service providers;

(9) Promote digital literacy, equity, and inclusion;

(10) Generate public awareness of the value of broadband technologies and applications;

(11) Promote adoption and utilization of broadband technologies and applications;

(12) Develop, maintain, and provide public access to:

(A) A statewide broadband map as a platform for data collection to track the availability of broadband services and to measure progress; and

(B) Other information relating to broadband;

(13) Convene relevant state and federal agencies and advise the governor, state agency leadership, and the State's congressional delegation on actions to leverage state government activities to meet state broadband goals; and

(14) Support and coordinate efforts with the Hawaii broadband advisory council.

§27- Hawaii broadband advisory council; established; functions. (a) There is established the Hawaii broadband advisory council, hereinafter referred to as council, within the executive office on broadband development for administrative purposes. The council shall be composed as follows:

(1) The governor shall appoint:

(A) One member to represent the city and county of Honolulu;

(B) One member to represent the county of Hawaii;

(D) One member to represent the county of Maui;

(E) Three members to represent telecommunications service providers and internet service providers in the State;

(F) One member to represent native Hawaiian interests;

(G) One member to represent education;

(H) One member to represent economic development;

(I) One member to represent public safety;

(J) One member to represent health;

(K) One member to represent the office of enterprise technology services;

(L) One member from the public utilities commission;

(M) One member to represent the department of transportation; and

(N) One member to represent consumers and the public at large;

(2) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one nonvoting member who is a member of the house of representatives; and

(3) The president of the senate shall appoint one nonvoting member who is a member of the senate;

provided that each member appointed by the governor shall be a voting member. The council shall select one voting member as chairperson.

(b) Each voting member of the council shall serve a term of four years, but shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Before the term of a voting member expires, the governor shall appoint a successor for the voting member. Each voting member shall be eligible for reappointment. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the governor shall make an appointment that becomes immediately effective for the unexpired term.

(d) The council shall meet at least once every three months at a place, day, and hour determined by the council. Official action by the council shall require approval by a majority of the voting members of the council. The council may recommend legislation, public policy, and solutions to address the State's broadband needs and goals.

(e) The council shall promote statewide access to broadband services and shall encourage:

(1) Coordination between existing organizations and sectors that can leverage broadband to their advantage;

(2) State agencies to encourage and facilitate broadband deployment;

(3) The development of digital inclusion and education programs to encourage broadband adoption and support institutions that teach digital skills necessary to succeed in the workplace;

(4) Efforts to provide cost-effective quality workforce development training using telecommunications infrastructure and facilities to access distance learning opportunities;

(5) Schools, education service districts, and local education agencies in unserved geographic areas to promote broadband access for the surrounding community;

(6) Public and private entities to seek opportunities for partnership with educational institutions that will support the use of broadband technologies through community projects and public education;

(7) The use of broadband communications technologies for telehealth; and

(8) Public and private organizations to work together in partnership to promote the use of telecommunications infrastructure and new technology.

(f) The council shall submit to the legislature an annual report detailing:

(1) The activities of the council;

(2) The affordability and accessibility of broadband technology in all geographic areas of the State;

(3) The extent of broadband technology use in the State in the business, health care, energy management, education, and government sectors; and

(4) The role of broadband technology in local, state, and regional economies and economic development;

provided that the annual report shall be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session of the legislature.

(g) Members of the Hawaii broadband advisory council shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

§27- Hawaii broadband advisory council special fund. (a) There is established a Hawaii broadband advisory council special fun into which shall be deposited the following moneys:

(1) Appropriations by the legislature to the Hawaii broadband advisory council special fund;

(2) Gifts, donations, and grants from public agencies and private persons; and

(3) All moneys directed to the Hawaii broadband advisory council special fund from any other source;

provided that all interest accrued by the revenues of the fund shall become part of the fund.

(b) The executive office on broadband development may expend moneys from the fund for purposes of carrying out the duties of the Hawaii broadband advisory council."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for deposit into the Hawaii broadband advisory council special fund.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the executive office on broadband development for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii broadband advisory council special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for purposes of carrying out the duties of the Hawaii broadband advisory council.

The sump appropriated shall be expended by the executive office or broadband development for purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020; and shall be repealed on June 30, 2035.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2264
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII