STAND. COM. REP. NO. 203

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 749

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 749 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADVANCING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Public Access Room to establish and maintain an outreach and engagement program for primary, secondary, post-secondary, and community education.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Commission to Promote and Advance Civic Education, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Community Alliance on Prisons, and two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

 

     Your Committee finds that civic engagement provides an opportunity for residents to become involved with improving their local communities and neighborhoods.  Your Committee further finds that the Public Access Room, an office under the Legislative Reference Bureau, provides the public with information, equipment, facilities, and services to assist in research activities, educational outreach, and public engagement related to work with the Legislature.  Your Committee additionally finds that the Public Access Room is well-positioned to further civic engagement between the Legislature and students in the State through educational partnerships.  However, the Public Access Room currently lacks resources to provide outreach services beyond its current efforts.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting new statutory language that requires the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to assign appropriate staff to coordinate with the Public Access Room with respect to the new outreach and engagement program;

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 749, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 749, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

 

 

 

________________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair