HB934

SECTION 1. Chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part . Hawaii broadband and digital equity office

§27-A Definitions. As used in this part:

"Broadband" means high-speed internet access that is always on, including mobile and fixed technologies.

"Digital equity" means a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in society, democracy, and the economy.

§27-B Hawaii broadband and digital equity office; establishment; strategic broadband coordinator; staff. (a) There is established the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office within the office of enterprise technology services.

(b) Without regard to section 26-34, the governor shall appoint a strategic broadband coordinator, who shall be exempt from chapter 76, to head the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office.

§27-C Hawaii broadband and digital equity office; duties. In furtherance of the State's objectives and policies for the economy pursuant to section 226-10.5, the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office shall:

(1) Develop and implement specific strategies and plans to aggressively increase broadband affordability, penetration, and competitive availability in the State;

(2) Support the efforts of both public and private entities in the State to enhance or facilitate the deployment of and access to competitively priced, advanced electronic communications services, including broadband and its products and services and internet access services of general application throughout the State;

(3) Promote the landing of trans-Pacific submarine cable, including the development of a shared access cable station and associated terrestrial connectivity to reduce barriers to fiber landing in Hawaii;

(4) Promote, advocate, and facilitate the implementation of the findings and recommendations of the Hawaii broadband task force established by Act 2, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, and the 2020 Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan;

(5) Support the findings of community-based groups as reflected in its digital equity declaration;

(6) Administer grant programs in support of broadband infrastructure, innovation, and the digital economy;

(7) Actively seek out funding from public and private sources in furtherance of the office's duties pursuant to this section; and

(8) Provide a repository, aggregation point, and governance framework for broadband mapping and digital equity data from various sources, including digital literacy, telehealth, distance education, remote work, internet accessibility, and service coverage to support mapping, reporting, infrastructure deployment, and data-driven policy.

§27-D Broadband planning and coordination; cooperation. (a) The Hawaii broadband and digital equity office shall:

(1) Seek input and the widest possible cooperation from public and private agencies and individuals to achieve the purposes of this part;

(2) Work closely with and assist the counties in the promotion of coordinated state and county broadband planning;

(3) Encourage every state department, county agency, and other public or private agencies and individuals involved in broadband programs to participate in the activities of the office and incorporate, to the extent feasible, the ideas and suggestions of the participants in the office's comprehensive planning goals;

(4) Monitor the broadband-based development efforts of other states and nations in areas such as business, education, and health;

(5) Advise the office of enterprise technology services on other states' best practices involving remote work promotion and policies and strategies related to making affordable broadband services available to every home and business in the State;

(6) Monitor broadband-related activities at the federal level;

(7) Encourage public-private partnerships to increase the deployment and adoption of broadband services and applications;

(8) Monitor regulatory and policy changes for potential impact on broadband deployment and sustainability in the State; and

(9) Advise the chief information officer on broadband deployment.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to delegate, or detract in any way from, the functions, powers, and duties conferred by law or rule on any department or agency of the State or county.

§27-E Broadband and digital equity special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasure the broadband and digital equity special fund to be administered by the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office, into which shall be deposited:

(1) Proceeds of leases of broadband infrastructure owned by the State;

(2) Appropriations by the legislature to the special fund; and

(3) Gifts, donations, and grants from public agencies and private persons.

All interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited into the special fund shall become a part of the special fund.

(b) Moneys in the broadband and digital equity special fund shall be used for:

(1) Supporting broadband projects;

(2) Defraying the cost of internet services; and

(3) Funding positions for personnel to provide technical assistance to the community.

(c) Expenditures from the broadband and digital equity special fund shall be made by the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office, subject to oversight and prior approval by the information technology steering committee."

SECTION 2. Chapter 206S, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 to be deposited into the broadband and digital equity special fund under section 27-E, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the broadband and digital equity special fund the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the purposes of the fund.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. All rights, powers, functions, and duties of the department of business, economic development, and tourism relating to the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office are transferred to the department of accounting and general services.

All employees who occupy civil service positions and whose functions are transferred to the department of accounting and general services by this Act shall retain their civil service status, whether permanent or temporary. Employees shall be transferred without loss of salary, seniority (except as prescribed by applicable collective bargaining agreements), retention points, prior service credit, any vacation and sick leave credits previously earned, and other rights, benefits, and privileges, in accordance with state personnel laws and this Act; provided that the employees possess the minimum qualifications and public employment requirements for the class or position to which transferred or appointed, as applicable; provided further that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable civil service and compensation laws.

Any employee who, prior to this Act, is exempt from civil service and is transferred as a consequence of this Act may retain the employee's exempt status, but shall not be appointed to a civil service position as a consequence of this Act. An exempt employee who is transferred by this Act shall not suffer any loss of prior service credit, vacation or sick leave credits previously earned, or other employee benefits or privileges as a consequence of this Act; provided that the employees possess legal and public employment requirements for the position to which transferred or appointed, as applicable; provided further that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable employment and compensation laws. The comptroller may prescribe the duties and qualifications of these employees and fix their salaries without regard to chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 6. All appropriations, records, equipment, machines, files, supplies, contracts, books, papers, documents, maps, and other personal property heretofore made, used, acquired, or held by the department of business, economic development, and tourism relating to the functions of the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office transferred to the department of accounting and general services shall be transferred with the functions to which they relate.

SECTION 7. In codifying the new sections added by section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	934
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII