STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1905

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.C.R. No. 219

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 219 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING TO FORM A WORKING GROUP AND DEVELOP A PLAN FOR OUTREACH TO KUPUNA TO REMEDIATE A LACK OF DIGITAL LITERACY, BROADBAND ACCESS, AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage the Executive Office on Aging to:

(1) Study and identify the number of kupuna in the State who struggle with digital literacy, lack broadband access, and lack computer equipment;

(2) Form a working group and develop a plan for outreach to kupuna to remediate a lack of digital literacy, broadband access, and computer equipment; and

(3) Partner with nonprofit groups that work toward increasing digital literacy and access for kupuna and other unserved or underserved communities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, & Tourism; AARP Hawai‘i; LearningBond.org; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Aging; Hawaii Workforce Development Council; Hawai‘i Community College; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Code.org; HawaiiKidsCAN; Hawaii Island Economic Development Board; O‘ahu County Democrats Digital Equity Committee; Hawaii Foodbank; Hawaii Literacy, Inc; Hawai‘i Leeward Planning Conference; Transform Hawaii Government; Akaku Maui County Community Media; and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic forced thousands of residents to function from home and rely on internet connectivity to access virtual communications. Your Committee further finds that members of the community, such as kupuna, homeless individuals, and recently released prisoners, often lack the digital skills necessary to fully utilize newer, current technologies. Kupuna in particular are eager for opportunities to learn about technologies that would facilitate independent aging and better social connections. This measure urges the Executive Office on Aging to, among other things, to form a working group related to digital literacy outreach to kupuna.

However, your Committee notes that the Broadband Hui, a collection of various public and private organizations and individuals, has actively taken the lead to address digital inequities and leverage opportunities to improve digital access. As such, your Committee finds that urging the Broadband Hui to collaborate with the Executive Office on Aging, rather than urging the Executive Office on Aging to form a working group, may be a more appropriate avenue to address the digital inequities targeted by this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the language that encouraged the Executive Office on Aging to take various actions relating to digital access issues for kupuna by studying and identifying kupuna, forming a working group, and partnering with nonprofit groups;

(2) Urging the Broadband Hui to include a representative from the Executive Office on Aging as a member of the Hui to represent the needs of kupuna with regard to digital literacy, broadband access, and computer equipment;

(3) Specifying that certified copies of this measure be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, & Tourism and Broadband Strategy Officer for the Hawaii Broadband Initiative;

(4) Amending its title to read, "URGING THE BROADBAND HUI TO INCLUDE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING AS A MEMBER OF THE HUI TO REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF KUPUNA WITH REGARD TO DIGITAL LITERACY, BROADBAND ACCESS, AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT."; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 219, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 219, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair