Bill Text: HI SCR209 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 209 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Requesting The State Office Of Enterprise Technology Services And The Legislative Reference Bureau To Collaborate To Provide Videoconference Access For Neighbor Island Residents To Be Able To Participate In Legislative Hearings And Sessions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-16 - The hearing on this measure has been cancelled until further notice. [SCR209 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SCR209-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	209
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the STATE office of enterprise technology services and the legislative reference BUREAU to collaborate TO provide VIDEOCONFERENCE access for neighbor island residentS TO BE ABLE TO participatE IN legislative Hearings and sessions.

WHEREAS, Legislative rules and practices encourage robust debate provided through testimony from members of the public; and

WHEREAS, a centralized system of State government provides for efficient coordination of government functions and services, especially for a population spread out over separate islands; and

WHEREAS, issues relating to accessibility and delivery of government information, services, and proceedings to residents of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, and rural Oahu remain an ongoing challenge, primarily due to the centralized location of state government in Honolulu's urban core; and

WHEREAS, the public and its ability to engage lawmakers and participate fully in the democratic process would greatly benefit from safe, stable, and secure Internet-based access; and

WHEREAS, current technology makes it possible for individuals to virtually attend and participate in legislative hearings; and

WHEREAS, despite available technology, there are operational and technical issues that must first be resolved in order to implement services to allow the public to participate in the legislative process via videoconferencing; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the State Office of Enterprise Technology Services and the Legislative Reference Bureau are respectfully requested to collaborate and provide for neighbor island residents to effectively participate in the legislative process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Office of Enterprise Technology Services and the Legislative Reference Bureau are further requested to determine and provide recommendations for State office buildings on Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, and rural Oahu respectively for the best location to provide access to telecommunication services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the State Office of Enterprise Technology Services and the Legislative Reference Bureau are further urged to collaborate and submit a report to the Legislature including recommendations for necessary legislation, no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Director of the State Office of Enterprise Technology Services and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.