Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB935 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 935 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to digital equity. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
2	2
3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 935
4	4	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
6	6
7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
8	8
9	9	H.B. NO.
10	10
11	11	935
12	12
13	13	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
14	14
15	15
16	16
17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
18	18
19	19
20	20
21	21
22	22
23	23
24	24
25	25
26	26
27	27
28	28
29	29
30	30
31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
32	32
33	33
34	34
35	35
36	36
37	37	relating to digital equity.
38	38
39	39
40	40
41	41
42	42
43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
44	44
45	45
46	46
47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that digital equity in every community across the State is essential to the well-being and economic reality of the State's residents. The lack of digital equity is a pressing community issue in Hawaii, and isolates those in rural and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. This inequality creates a digital divide, which is especially exacerbated amongst the State's most vulnerable and underserved populations. The legislature also finds that digital equity has meant the difference between an employee being able to work remotely and an employee possibly facing unemployment. Additionally, digital literacy and broadband access are critical tools for persons seeking to access social services, such as unemployment claims; supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; vital records; and other essential government, educational, and medical services. The legislature further finds that digital equity in the State will enhance Hawaii's overall economic development and education, health care, and emergency services. The purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for a digital navigator pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and electronic devices to residents. SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii broadband and digital equity office shall establish a two-year navigator pilot program that offers technical assistance with computers and electronic devices for members of the public. (b) The Hawaii broadband and digital equity office may partner with the Hawaii state public library system and other state agencies for the purposes of the pilot program. (c) The digital navigator pilot program shall have two locations on the island of Oahu, two locations on the island of Hawaii, one location on the island of Kauai, and one location on the island of Maui. (d) The Hawaii broadband and digital equity office shall submit a shall submit a report of the pilot program's feasibility and impact, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027. SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the broadband and digital equity special fund established pursuant to Act , Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish a digital navigator pilot program pursuant to this Act. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
48	48
49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that digital equity in every community across the State is essential to the well-being and economic reality of the State's residents. The lack of digital equity is a pressing community issue in Hawaii, and isolates those in rural and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. This inequality creates a digital divide, which is especially exacerbated amongst the State's most vulnerable and underserved populations.
50	50
51	51	The legislature also finds that digital equity has meant the difference between an employee being able to work remotely and an employee possibly facing unemployment. Additionally, digital literacy and broadband access are critical tools for persons seeking to access social services, such as unemployment claims; supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits; vital records; and other essential government, educational, and medical services.
52	52
53	53	The legislature further finds that digital equity in the State will enhance Hawaii's overall economic development and education, health care, and emergency services.
54	54
55	55	The purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for a digital navigator pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and electronic devices to residents.
56	56
57	57	SECTION 2. (a) The Hawaii broadband and digital equity office shall establish a two-year navigator pilot program that offers technical assistance with computers and electronic devices for members of the public.
58	58
59	59	(b) The Hawaii broadband and digital equity office may partner with the Hawaii state public library system and other state agencies for the purposes of the pilot program.
60	60
61	61	(c) The digital navigator pilot program shall have two locations on the island of Oahu, two locations on the island of Hawaii, one location on the island of Kauai, and one location on the island of Maui.
62	62
63	63	(d) The Hawaii broadband and digital equity office shall submit a shall submit a report of the pilot program's feasibility and impact, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.
64	64
65	65	SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the broadband and digital equity special fund established pursuant to Act , Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish a digital navigator pilot program pursuant to this Act.
66	66
67	67	The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office for the purposes of this Act.
68	68
69	69	SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
70	70
71	71
72	72
73	73	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
74	74
75	75	INTRODUCED BY:
76	76
77	77	_____________________________
78	78
79	79
80	80
81	81
82	82
83	83	Report Title: Digital Equity; Digital Navigator Pilot Program; Appropriation Description: Establishes and appropriates funds for a digital navigator pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and electronic devices to residents. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
84	84
85	85
86	86
87	87
88	88
89	89	Report Title:
90	90
91	91	Digital Equity; Digital Navigator Pilot Program; Appropriation
92	92
93	93
94	94
95	95	Description:
96	96
97	97	Establishes and appropriates funds for a digital navigator pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and electronic devices to residents.
98	98
99	99
100	100
101	101
102	102
103	103
104	104
105	105	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.