STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1933

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1317

S.D. 3

H.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 1317, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BROADBAND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Transfer the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor on a temporary, four-year basis;

(2) Provide the matching funds required to receive federal funds for state broadband initiatives; and

(3) Require the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to convene and chair the working group established pursuant to Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Education; University of Hawai‘i System; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Vibrant Hawai‘i; Hawaii Broadband Hui; AARP Hawai‘i; AlohaCare; and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

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 S.B. No. 1317, S.D. 3, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair