Bill Text: HI HCR124 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Underserved communities library commission; Hawaii State Public Library; Education

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-18 - Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 39 [HCR124 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HCR124-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	124
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the establishment of the underserved communities library Commission to examine communities in the State lacking a local library service or receiving reduced library services and to develop and identify resources to establish a library or enhance library services.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, an informed citizenry is the foundation of democracy; and

 

WHEREAS, research has demonstrated that early childhood exposure to books, music, art, and science from a local library can aid in the development of children; and

 

WHEREAS, since statehood, the Hawaii State Public Library System has been mandated to supply the people of Hawaii with accessible, equitable, and appropriate library services; and

 

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Library System has been heavily impacted by increased population in underserved areas and rising operational expenses; and

 

WHEREAS, budgetary reductions and constraints over many years have resulted in a twenty percent vacancy rate in staffing and the permanent and temporary closure of library facilities,  creating inequities of service throughout the State; and

 

WHEREAS, adequate resources to correct this situation and supply the people of Hawaii with the library and information services necessary to maintain the basic standards of service to which they are entitled are not available under the present system of funding, as the average wait time for a new library is thirty years and the average cost is $15,000,000; and

 

WHEREAS, the State is presently confronted by an adult illiteracy rate of sixteen percent and an aliteracy rate of approximately double that; now therefore; and

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the Governor is requested to establish, within the Department of Education for administrative purposes only, the underserved communities library commission; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to invite the initial members of the commission, including at least one member from each of the following:

 

(1)  The Hawaii State Public Library System;

 

(2)  The Office of the Superintendent of Education;

 

(3)  The Department of Human Services;

 

(4)  The Office of Information Management and Technology;

 

(4)  The City and County of Honolulu;

 

(5)  The County of Hawaii;

 

(6)  The County of Kauai;

 

(7)  The County of Maui;

 

(8)  Friends of the Library of Hawaii;

 

(9)  Hawaii Association of Independent Schools;

 

(10)  Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network; and

 

(11)  Hawaii Community Foundation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the underserved communities library commission shall serve without compensation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the underserved communities library commission is requested to examine communities in the State lacking a local library service or receiving reduced library services and to develop and identify resources to establish a library or enhance library services provided to those underserved communities; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the underserved communities library commission shall consider what facilities, staffing, materials, and technologies the underserved communities may need and what resources can be developed to meet those needs;

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the underserved communities library commission is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2014; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the underserved communities library commission, upon the request of the Legislature, participate in a joint informational briefing to discuss its report; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall cease to exist on June 30, 2014; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the State Librarian, the Superintendent of Education, the Director of Human Services, the Chief Information Officer, the Mayor of each county, the Executive Director of the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network, and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Community Foundation.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Underserved communities library commission; Hawaii State Public Library; Education