|
THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
35 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
SENATE RESOLUTION
requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to cooperate with the hawaii state public library system to identify rural and underserved communities IN THE STATE with a need for better telecommunication access for RESIDENTS TO participatE in the state legislative process.
WHEREAS, providing access for residents to participate in the state legislative process is a basic right of citizenship in the State and should continue to be a priority; and
WHEREAS, ensuring equitable access to the state legislative process for nearly four hundred fifty thousand residents on the neighbor islands, as well as those in rural Oʻahu, is essential to strengthening civic engagement, enhancing the effectiveness of the legislative process, and ensuring fair and accurate representation on issues impacting the entire State; and
WHEREAS, with the rising costs of airfare, gas, and lodging, providing designated locations or state offices on neighbor islands and in rural Oʻahu where citizens can participate remotely in the state legislative process will help reduce the financial burden of participation and further boost civic engagement; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System has long provided free public access to broadband Internet and computer equipment and is therefore well-prepared to serve as a conduit for facilitating remote legislative participation; and
WHEREAS, with a network of fifty-one libraries across the State, all of which have broadband capabilities and various electronic devices, including Chromebooks, the Hawaii State Public Library System has the infrastructure and resources to support public access to the Internet and videoconferencing, making it uniquely well-suited to assist individuals in participating in the state legislative process; and
WHEREAS, the Legislative Reference Bureau has been tasked with publicizing and educating the community and public at large about the state legislative process, including ways in which residents may testify on measures; and
WHEREAS, given its mandate and the existing infrastructure in public libraries, it may be productive for the Public Access Room of the Legislative Reference Bureau to publicize the availability of tools within the Hawaii State Public Library System to participate in the state legislative process; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to cooperate with the Hawaii State Public Library System to identify rural and underserved communities with a need for better telecommunication access for residents, including those with developmental disabilities, to participate in the state legislative process; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Access Room of the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to collaborate with the Hawaii State Public Library System to establish an outreach program to notify the public regarding the availability of library infrastructure to support remote public participation in the state legislative process; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit to the Legislature a report on the implementation of the outreach program, including its findings and recommendations to further improve public access to the state legislative process, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, State Librarian, and Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board.
LRB; HSPLS; Civic Engagement; Accessibility