STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1018
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: S.B. No. 135
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 135, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The
purpose of this measure is to require
the Office of Enterprise Technology Services to establish a working group to:
(1) Conduct a study to
identify state office buildings that are able to provide equitable
telecommunication access to residents of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and
Maui and residents of rural areas in the City and County of Honolulu, including
residents with disabilities, to participate remotely in legislative hearings;
and
(2) Submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the 2022 Regular Session.
Your Committee finds that the coronavirus
pandemic closed many public and private places, including workplaces, and
curtailed activities in everyday life and the way people interact with one
another. The pandemic heightened the need
for remote work and learning capabilities and brought this immediate need to
the forefront. Your Committee further finds
that this measure will assist in making legislative hearings more accessible to
residents statewide, particularly residents in rural areas and residents with
disabilities, thereby enabling greater citizen participation in the legislative
process.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Adding a person with a communication disability to the working group;
(2) Dissolving the working group on June 30, 2022; and
(3) 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 Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 135, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 135, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,
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____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair |
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