STAND. COM. REP. NO. 192

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 870

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 870 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Comptroller to identify state office buildings that can provide equitable telecommunication access to facilitate greater participation of neighbor island and rural Oahu residents in the state legislative process remotely.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, Responsive Caregivers of Hawaii, Arc of Maui County, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee finds that offering alternative pathways for citizens to provide testimony expands their access to the legislative process and increases democratic participation. Amplifying diverse voices is a key principle of good governance and effective policymaking. For individuals on neighbor islands and in rural areas of Oahu, those who lack access to reliable internet access, and those with disabilities, offering state buildings as access points for remote testimony will greatly expand their opportunities to interact with and address legislation directly impacting their lives. This measure increases accessibility in government by requiring the Comptroller to identify state office buildings suited to hosting remote testifiers.

Your Committee notes testimony stating that the Hawaii State Library System currently has fifty-one libraries that are outfitted with internet access, laptops; environmentally controlled, including air conditioning; and have staff capable of providing the necessary support to potential users wanting to access legislative proceedings. Furthermore, the State's libraries are designed to support residents with disabilities to ensure access to the services available there.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Comptroller and State Librarian, or their respective designees, to collaborate in performing the tasks required pursuant to this measure;

(2) Adding the task of estimating the costs and resources, including additional staffing, required to increase equitable telecommunication access to allow residents to remotely participate in legislative hearings in state office buildings;

(3) Inserting language allowing the Comptroller and State Librarian to partner with the University of Hawaii in performing these tasks;

(4) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(5) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2525, to encourage further discussion; 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 870, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 870, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair