STAND. COM. REP. NO. 289

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1232

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1232 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE LIBRARY SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the State Librarian, with approval from the Board of Education, to impose and collect rates, rents, fees, fines, and charges for the use of state library facilities and revise rates, rents, fees, fines, and charges as necessary.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Public Library System.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii State Public Library System operates fifty-one branches on six islands and is the only public library system in the State. Presently, the Hawaii State Public Library System is required to adopt administrative rules to update the current fee schedule, which can be a cumbersome, delayed process. As the Hawaii State Public Library System considers new pilot projects or temporary services to support local library communities across the State, authorizing the State Librarian to update current fee schedules will streamline administrative processes to support public library services.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1232 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 Education,

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair