STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1095

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1408

H.D. 3

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1408, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Digital Equity Grant Program to award grants to applicants to deploy digital equity projects to covered populations in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, AARP Hawai‘i, Hawaii Broadband Hui, Hawaii Literacy, Kapolei Chamber of Commerce, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1408, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1408, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair