STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2451

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2885

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2885 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADVANCING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position at the Public Access Room to provide educational outreach and engagement with Hawaii public schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawaii County Council, Common Cause Hawaii, Commission to Promote and Advance Civic Education, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Legislative Reference Bureau.

Your Committee finds that civic engagement provides an opportunity for residents to become involved with improving their local communities and neighborhoods. Your Committee further finds that the Public Access Room, an office under the Legislative Reference Bureau, provides the public with information, equipment, facilities, and services to assist in research activities, educational outreach, and public engagement related to work with the Legislature. The Public Access Room is well-positioned to further civic engagement with the Legislature in the State's schools.

Your Committee finds, however, that the Public Access Room currently lacks resources to provide outreach services in addition to its current responsibilities. Your Committee therefore finds that this measure will promote civic engagement by funding a position within the Legislative Reference Bureau to provide educational outreach and engagement services to students.

Your Committee notes the testimony of the Commission to Promote and Advance Civic Education, suggesting the position created by this measure serve all schools, and not only public schools.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding this measure to pertain to all schools in the State; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2885, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2885, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair