STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 375
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: H.B. No. 809
H.D. 2
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 H.B. No. 809, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to improve broadband access and infrastructure in the State by:
(1) Establishing the Hawaii Broadband Office within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation;
(2) Establishing the position of the State Broadband Strategy Officer;
(3) Renaming the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council as the Broadband Advisory Council and amending its purpose and membership;
(4) Requiring the Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to convene and chair the Broadband Advisory Council; and
(5) Appropriating funds for the creation and staffing of the Hawaii Broadband Office.
Your Committee finds that there is a strong relationship between broadband access and economic development, education, health, community building, and civic engagement throughout the State. Furthermore, broadband is essential to maintain Hawaii's global competitiveness and a modern lifestyle, as its use grows in all sectors, particularly in education, retail, and government services. This measure establishes the Hawaii Broadband Office and restructures the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council to improve broadband services throughout the State.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Specifying that existing members of the Advisory Council will continue to serve the remainder of their terms and requiring that vacancies be filled in a manner consistent with this measure; and
(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 809, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 809, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,
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____________________________ AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair |
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