STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3586

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 174

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 174 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT A TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY DATA GOVERNANCE TASK FORCE BE CONVENED TO ASSESS CURRENT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA COLLECTION, PROCESSING, RETENTION, AND SHARING PROCEDURES UTILIZED BY ALL STATE AGENCIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request:

(1) The Legislature to convene a task force to develop a Twenty-First Century Data Governance Task Force (Task Force) to assess current demographic data collection, processing, retention, and sharing procedures utilized by all state agencies;

(2) The Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025; and

(3) The Task Force to dissolve on June 30, 2025.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, and Hawaii Data Collaborative.

Your Committee finds that not all state agencies keep, or make accessible to the public, demographic data in a standard or uniform manner that comports with the prevailing federal standards. Given the diversity of languages and cultures in the State, the uniform collection and sharing of data specific to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders is critical to understanding the distinct needs of these communities. The Task Force established by this measure will help the State shape programs and policies that strategically target those most in need and advance more equitable outcomes for all communities in the State.

Your Committee recognizes that this measure does not designate the lead agency to convene the Task Force requested in this measure or the person to serve as its chairperson. Therefore, this measure needs to be amended to address these matters.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Department of Health, rather than the Legislature, to convene the Task Force;

(2) Amending the composition of the Task Force by replacing the Director of the Department of Health's Office of Health Equity with the Director of Health or the Director's designee;

(3) Inserting language that requests the Director of Health or the Director's designee to serve as the chairperson of the Task Force;

(4) Amending the list of recipients of certified copies by replacing the Director of the Department of Health's Office of Health Equity with the Director of Health;

(5) Amending its title to reflect its amended purpose; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 174, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 174, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair