STAND. COM. REP. NO. 370

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 369

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Technology and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 369 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VIDEOCONFERENCING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require both chambers of the legislature to implement rules to permit residents to present testimony through audiovisual technology; and

 

     (2)  Appropriate funds to establish audiovisual technology throughout the State to enable neighbor island residents to present oral testimony at legislative committee hearings.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services, Hawaii County Council, Hawaii Shores Community Association, Green Color Technologies, and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the utilization of audiovisual technology promotes equal access and invites greater participation in the legislative process, which is the cornerstone of democracy.  Additionally, the use of videoconferencing saves Hawaii residents on neighbor islands time and money because they incur significant costs to travel to Honolulu to provide testimony in person.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Technology and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 369 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Technology and the Arts,

 

		____________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair