STAND. COM. REP. NO. 586

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 337

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 337 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the available methods of public participation in the legislative process by:

(1) Establishing a remote legislative access program to enable Hawaii residents to participate remotely in legislative proceedings; and

(2) Appropriating funds to establish the program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i; Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Na Kupuna Moku O Keawe; Full Life; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action; HCC Legislative Committee; Disability and Communication Access Board; and eighteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that the public plays an important role in the legislative process through participating as in-person testifiers. Currently, the opportunity to provide in-person testimony for many individuals is out of reach either because of financial constraints, physical limitations, or geographic barriers. Therefore, your Committee finds that investment in a remote legislative access program is necessary to allow participation of all Hawaii residents in the legislative process.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 337 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Technology,

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair