SB 870 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATION.

Summary

Requires the Comptroller and State Librarian to identify state office buildings, including state libraries, that can provide equitable telecommunication access to allow certain residents, including residents with disabilities, to participate remotely in legislative hearings and estimate the costs and resources, including additional staffing, to effectuate this purpose. Allows the Comptroller and State Librarian to partner with the University of Hawaii in performing these tasks. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 10, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB870 → SB870_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was expanded from requiring only the Comptroller to identify state office buildings for telecommunication access to a joint effort between the Comptroller and State Librarian, including state libraries. The scope now explicitly allows partnering with the University of Hawaii to perform these tasks. The effective date was changed from 'upon approval' to a specific future date of January 1, 2525.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to include state libraries as eligible locations and added the State Librarian as a co-responsible agency, with permission to partner with the University of Hawaii.

REQUIREMENT

Responsibility for identifying telecommunication access locations was changed from the Comptroller alone to a collaboration between the Comptroller and State Librarian.

New provision allows the Comptroller and State Librarian to partner with the University of Hawaii to perform required tasks.

Added requirement for the Comptroller and State Librarian to estimate costs and resources, including additional staffing, needed to implement the telecommunication access program.

SCOPE

State libraries were added as eligible locations for providing telecommunication access to residents.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from 'upon approval' to January 1, 2525.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 192) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to GVO, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

6 primary · 6 co-sponsors