STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3049

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2885, S.D. 1, 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 moneys to the Legislative Reference Bureau to support one full-time position in the State Capitol's Public Access Room to provide educational outreach and engagement for all Hawaii schools.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Commission to Promote Advance Civic Education, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Common Cause Hawaii, and six individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Legislative Reference Bureau.

Your Committee finds that the educational outreach program funded by this measure will help teach students about the legislative process, provide them opportunities to interact with state legislators, and encourage them to become more politically engaged adults.

Your Committee acknowledges the following written concerns offered by the Legislative Reference Bureau:

[W]e note that [the Public Access Room] already provides universal community outreach and civic engagement seminars, workshops, and information that are not limited to one specific target audience, which means that students could benefit from these pre-existing educational sessions and information. The scope of additional activities envisioned by this measure is uncertain; however, if the intent is to include such activities as providing tours to school children, then PAR would need additional space within the Capitol building to ensure that tours do not interfere with PAR's current service . . . [I]f the Committee . . . envisions that PAR conduct in-person tours for large groups as part of the educational outreach program once the building has reopened, we respectfully ask the Committee to consider the spatial challenges that such an activity would create for PAR.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2885, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair