STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 2096
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: S.C.R. No. 53
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 53, S.D. 1, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT 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,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System and Legislative Reference Bureau.
Your Committee finds that providing access for residents to participate in the state legislative process is a basic right of citizenship in Hawaii and should continue to be a priority. Your Committee further finds that access to the state legislative process is often limited for those living in remote areas or lacking reliable internet connectivity.
Your Committee notes that 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. Your Committee believes that the Hawaii State Public Library System has the infrastructure and resources to support public access to the Internet and videoconferencing, making it uniquely positioned to assist individuals in participating in the legislative process.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Requesting the Comptroller, rather than the Legislative Reference Bureau, 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;
(2) Requesting the Comptroller to also cooperate with the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office in identifying rural and underserved communities with a need for better telecommunication access for residents;
(3) Deleting language that would have requested the Public Access Room 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;
(4) Requesting the Comptroller to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026;
(5) Directing certified copies of this measure to the Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and Strategic Broadband Coordinator of the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office;
(6) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and
(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 53, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 53, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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