STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1600

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 161

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 161, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AND ADOPTING THE GOALS SET FORTH IN THE DIGITAL EQUITY DECLARATION FOR HAWAII ADOPTED BY THE BROADBAND HUI,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support and adopt the goals set forth in the Digital Equity Declaration that was adopted by the Broadband Hui.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, & Tourism; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; AlohaCare; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Young Democrats of Hawai‘i; Transform Hawai‘i Government; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that digital equity is the condition in which all Hawaii residents have the information technology capacity needed to participate fully in society, democracy, and economy, including civics, social, and cultural activities, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services. Your Committee further finds that digital inequity has been a pressing community issue for many years, separating persons in rural communities and socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances from the rest of society through a lack of adequate broadband infrastructure, internet-capable devices, affordable broadband service, and technological knowledge. The Digital Equity Declaration establishes goals to reduce and overcome the digital inequity in the State and this measure acknowledges and supports the Declaration.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that explains the Digital Equity Declaration; and

(2) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 161, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 161, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair