THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2214
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to digital literacy.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, according to a 2015 report by the Association of Library Service to Children, library services increasingly center on digital tools and media. In 2015, seventy-five per cent of households owned some form of digital media device. However, guidance and knowledge on the use of digital media is often lacking. Providing parents and children with a deeper understanding of the digital tools available to them is essential to the well-being of families in the twenty-first century.

The legislature further finds that digital literacy skills are crucial for career success in the twenty-first century. According to a Brookings Institution report from 2017, workplaces across the country and globe have undergone a rapid process of digitization. The percentage of workplaces with high levels of digital content has grown dramatically in recent years, while the percentage of workplaces that rely on a lower level of digital content has decreased by a similarly dramatic margin. While digitization offers advantages to employees with extensive digital literacy, it also increases barriers for members of the workforce who lack digital skills. Increasing digital literacy among students and members of the workforce would increase their competitiveness in an economy increasingly defined by the ability to use digital tools.

The purpose of this Act is to increase access to digital tools and promote digital literacy by establishing a digital literacy program to be administered by the board of education through the state librarian.

SECTION 2. Chapter 312, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§312-   Digital literacy program. (a) In addition to its other duties, the board of education, through the state librarian, shall:

(1) Provide for the establishment and ongoing operation of digital literacy programs for the public libraries in the State; and

(2) Provide coordination and facilitation of the activities of digital literacy service providers and digital literacy programs in the public, private, and volunteer sectors.

(b) The objectives of the digital literacy program shall be to provide programmatic activities that promote digital learning and well-being by improving parents' skills and attitudes toward digital education and tools; increasing children's skills using digital tools; and developing digital skills among students and within the workforce.

(c) The digital literacy program shall not affect existing department of education programs relating to adult education as provided under sections 302A-432 to 302A-435."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Digital Literacy; Libraries; Board of Education; State Librarian

Description:

Establishes a digital literacy program to be overseen by the Board of Education and implemented by the State Librarian to promote digital literacy through programmatic activities that expose children and parents to digital tools.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.