STAND. COM. REP. NO. 643-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2339

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2339 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO 911 SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Delete the term "enhanced" in reference to 911 services to allow funding of all 911 technologies; and

(2) Allow the 911 Board to employ staff, in addition to the Executive Director, who are exempt from civil service and collective bargaining laws.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Enhanced 911 Board; Public Utilities Commission; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Honolulu Police Department; Honolulu Fire Department; Hawaii Police Department; and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that the term "enhanced" in reference to 911 services refers to technology developed more than twenty years ago. However, advancements in technology and changes in terminology have made this term outdated. Your Committee further finds that existing law limits the ability of the 911 Board to use the funding for upgrading to new technologies, despite a national trend of other states upgrading their 911 services to next generation technology. This measure will provide flexibility to fund any upgrades to 911 service technologies, thereby ensuring public safety throughout the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2339, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2339, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair