| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that civic engagement provides an opportunity for residents to become involved with improving their local communities and neighborhoods. In 2021, the supreme court enacted Rule 23 to establish the commission to promote and advance civic education (PACE commission). One of the main functions of the PACE commission is to provide leadership, oversight, and initiatives to increase civic education in the community and at schools, increase citizens' knowledge about government, and promote informed participation in government and democracy in the State. The legislature 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. The legislature 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 such as the Hawaii P-20 partnerships for education. However, the public access room currently lacks resources to provide outreach services beyond its current efforts. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to: (1) Require the public access room to establish and maintain an outreach and engagement program for primary, secondary, post-secondary, and community education and provide funding for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to assist in effectuating this requirement; and (2) Require the department of education and University of Hawaii to assign appropriate staff to coordinate with the public access room with respect to the outreach and engagement program. SECTION 2. Section 21G-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) There is established in the state capitol a public access room in which members of the public shall be allowed to utilize various equipment, services, and facilities to enhance their ability to participate in the legislative process. As part of its duties, the public access room shall establish and maintain an outreach and engagement program for primary, secondary, post-secondary, and community education." SECTION 3. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart C, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§302A- Coordination with public access room; outreach and engagement. The department shall assign appropriate staff to coordinate with the public access room with respect to the outreach and engagement program described in section 21G-2(a)." SECTION 4. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart G, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§304A- Coordination with public access room; outreach and engagement. The university shall assign appropriate staff to coordinate with the public access room with respect to the outreach and engagement program described in section 21G-2(a)." SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position within the public access room. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the legislative reference bureau for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that civic engagement provides an opportunity for residents to become involved with improving their local communities and neighborhoods. In 2021, the supreme court enacted Rule 23 to establish the commission to promote and advance civic education (PACE commission). One of the main functions of the PACE commission is to provide leadership, oversight, and initiatives to increase civic education in the community and at schools, increase citizens' knowledge about government, and promote informed participation in government and democracy in the State. The legislature 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. The legislature 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 such as the Hawaii P-20 partnerships for education. However, the public access room currently lacks resources to provide outreach services beyond its current efforts. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the public access room to establish and maintain an outreach and engagement program for primary, secondary, post-secondary, and community education and provide funding for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to assist in effectuating this requirement. SECTION 2. Section 21G-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) There is established in the state capitol a public access room in which members of the public shall be allowed to utilize various equipment, services, and facilities to enhance their ability to participate in the legislative process. As part of its duties, the public access room shall establish and maintain an outreach and engagement program for primary, secondary, post-secondary, and community education." SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position within the public access room. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the legislative reference bureau for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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