STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1202-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.R. No. 23

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.R. No. 23 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION DECLARING DISINFORMATION AND DIGITAL HATE SPEECH AS THREATS TO DEMOCRACY AND URGING DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO ADDRESS THESE THREATS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge all State departments and agencies to address disinformation and digital hate speech by:

(1) Developing public safety plans to protect public institutions and employees from threats of violence that are organized online;

(2) Increasing access to media literacy and training in how to effectively identify and respond to disinformation and digital hate speech;

(3) Establishing trauma-informed protocols to assist those who are targeted and harmed by disinformation and digital hate speech; and

(4) Making any necessary amendments to rules and policies to address disinformation and hate speech

Your Committee received testimony in support from Democratic Party of Hawaii and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that disinformation and digital hate speech have been linked to a global increase in violence towards minorities. Sixty four percent of teenagers have encountered hate speech on social media. Your Committee finds that government officials, employees and citizens are regularly subjected to threats of violence which corrodes democracy. Your Committee further finds that this resolution will provide safe guards for democracy.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 23 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair