CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 127

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 811

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 811, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEMOGRAPHIC DATA,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require state agencies to disaggregate data consistent with federal standards and to publish the data; and

(2) Establish a task force to assess demographic data collection, processing, retention, and sharing procedures, needs, and challenges.

Your Committee on Conference finds that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders are often misrepresented as a homogeneous group, despite having ethnicities from over thirty different countries. Your Committee on Conference further finds that because not all state agencies keep, or make accessible to the public, demographic data in a standard or uniform manner that comports with the prevailing federal standards, requiring state agencies to disaggregate race data for collection, analysis, evaluation, access, and dissemination can aid in shaping programs and policies to advance more equitable outcomes for all communities in the State. Therefore, this measure establishes a Task Force on Twenty-First Century Data Governance to assess how the State currently collects demographic data and requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

Accordingly, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the creation of a new section under chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requiring state agencies, boards, or commissions to collect and disaggregate certain demographic data for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander Groups consistent with federal standards and to publish the data;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(3) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 811, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 811, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair	____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Chair
____________________________ ANDREW GARRETT Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Co-Chair