RELATING TO THE HAWAII BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE.

SB1062

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1062

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the hawaii broadband and digital equity office
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1.
�
Chapter 27, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

"
Part .
�
Hawaii broadband and digital equity office

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�
27-A
�
Definitions.
�
As used in this part:

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"Broadband"
means high-speed internet access that is always on, including mobile and fixed
technologies.

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"Digital
equity" means a condition in which all individuals and communities have
the information technology capacity needed for full participation in society,
democracy, and the economy.

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�
27-B
�
Hawaii broadband and digital equity office;
establishment; strategic broadband coordinator; staff.
�
(a)
�

There is established the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office
within the office of enterprise technology services.

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(b)
�
Without regard to section 26-34, the governor
shall appoint a strategic broadband coordinator, who shall be exempt from
chapter 76, to head the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office.

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�27-C
�
Hawaii broadband and digital equity office;
duties.
�
In furtherance of the
State's objectives and policies for the economy pursuant to section 226-10.5,
the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office shall:

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(1)
�
Develop and implement specific strategies and
plans to aggressively increase broadband affordability, penetration, and
competitive availability in the State;

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(2)
�
Support the efforts of both public and private
entities in the State to enhance or facilitate the deployment of and access to
competitively priced, advanced electronic communications services, including
broadband and its products and services and internet access services of general
application throughout the State;

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(3)
�
Promote the landing of trans-Pacific submarine
cable, including the development of a shared access cable station and
associated terrestrial connectivity to reduce barriers to fiber landing in
Hawaii;

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(4)
�
Promote, advocate, and facilitate the
implementation of the findings and recommendations of the Hawaii broadband task
force established by Act 2, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, and the
2020 Hawaii Broadband Strategic Plan;

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(5)
�
Support the findings of community-based groups
as reflected in its digital equity declaration;

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(6)
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Administer grant programs in support of
broadband infrastructure, innovation, and the digital economy;

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(7)
�
Actively seek out funding from public and
private sources in furtherance of the office's duties pursuant to this section;
and

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(8)
�
Provide a repository, aggregation point, and
governance framework for broadband mapping and digital equity data from various
sources, including digital literacy, telehealth, distance education, remote
work, internet accessibility, and service coverage to support mapping,
reporting, infrastructure deployment, and data-driven policy.

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�27-D
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Broadband planning and coordination;
cooperation.
�
(a)
�
The Hawaii broadband and digital equity
office shall:

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(1)
�
Seek input and the widest possible cooperation
from public and private agencies and individuals to achieve the purposes of
this part;

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(2)
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Work closely with and assist the counties in
the promotion of coordinated state and county broadband planning;

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(3)
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Encourage every state department, county
agency, and other public or private agencies and individuals involved in
broadband programs to participate in the activities of the office and
incorporate, to the extent feasible, the ideas and suggestions of the participants
in the office's comprehensive planning goals;

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(4)
�
Monitor the broadband-based development
efforts of other states and nations in areas such as business, education, and
health;

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(5)
�
Advise the office of enterprise technology
services on other states' best practices involving remote work promotion and
policies and strategies related to making affordable broadband services
available to every home and business in the State;

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(6)
�
Monitor broadband-related activities at the
federal level;

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(7)
�
Encourage public-private partnerships to
increase the deployment and adoption of broadband services and applications;

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(8)
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Monitor regulatory and policy changes for
potential impact on broadband deployment and sustainability in the State; and

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(9)
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Advise the chief information officer on
broadband deployment.

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(b)
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Nothing in this section shall be construed to
delegate, or detract in any way from, the functions, powers, and duties
conferred by law or rule on any department or agency of the State or county.

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27-E
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Broadband and digital equity special fund.
�
(a)
�
There
is established in the state treasure the broadband and digital equity special
fund to be administered by the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office, into
which shall be deposited:

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(1)
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Proceeds of leases of broadband infrastructure
owned by the State;

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(2)
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Appropriations by the legislature to the
special fund; and

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(3)
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Gifts, donations, and grants from public
agencies and private persons.

All interest earned or accrued on moneys deposited
into the special fund shall become a part of the special fund.

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(b)
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Moneys in the broadband and digital equity
special fund shall be used for:

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(1)
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Supporting broadband projects;

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(2)
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Defraying the cost of internet services; and

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(3)
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Funding positions for personnel to provide
technical assistance to the community.

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(c)
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Expenditures from the broadband and digital
equity special fund shall be made by the Hawaii broadband and digital equity
office, subject to oversight and prior approval by the information technology
steering committee."

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SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 206S, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is repealed.

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SECTION
3
.
�
There
is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 to be
deposited into the
broadband and digital equity special fund under
section 27-E, Hawaii Revised Statutes
.

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SECTION
4
.
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There
is appropriated out of the br
oadband and digital equity special fund
the sum of $200,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the purposes of the
fund.

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The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the
Hawaii broadband and digital equity office
for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 5.
�
All rights, powers, functions, and duties of
the department of business, economic development, and tourism relating to the
Hawaii broadband and digital equity office are transferred to the department of
accounting and general services.

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All employees who
occupy civil service positions and whose functions are transferred to the
department of accounting and general services by this Act shall retain their
civil service status, whether permanent or temporary.
�
Employees shall be transferred without loss
of salary, seniority (except as prescribed by applicable collective bargaining
agreements), retention points, prior service credit, any vacation and sick
leave credits previously earned, and other rights, benefits, and privileges, in
accordance with state personnel laws and this Act; provided that the employees
possess the minimum qualifications and public employment requirements for the
class or position to which transferred or appointed, as applicable; provided
further that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable
civil service and compensation laws.

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Any employee who,
prior to this Act, is exempt from civil service and is transferred as a
consequence of this Act may retain the employee's exempt status, but shall not
be appointed to a civil service position as a consequence of this Act.
�
An exempt employee who is transferred by this
Act shall not suffer any loss of prior service credit, vacation or sick leave
credits previously earned, or other employee benefits or privileges as a
consequence of this Act; provided that the employees possess legal and public
employment requirements for the position to which transferred or appointed, as
applicable; provided further that subsequent changes in status may be made
pursuant to applicable employment and compensation laws.
�
The comptroller may prescribe the duties and
qualifications of these employees and fix their salaries without regard to
chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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SECTION 6.
�
All appropriations, records, equipment,
machines, files, supplies, contracts, books, papers, documents, maps, and other
personal property heretofore made, used, acquired, or held by the department of
business, economic development, and tourism relating to the functions of the
Hawaii broadband and digital equity office transferred to the department of
accounting and general services shall be transferred with the functions to
which they relate.

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SECTION 7.
�
In codifying the new sections added by
section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate
section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this
Act.

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SECTION 8.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Hawaii Broadband
and Digital Equity Office; Department of Business, Economic Development, and
Tourism; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Hawaii Broadband and Digital
Equity Special Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Transfers
the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office from the Department of Business,
Economic Development, and Tourism to the Office of Enterprise Technology
Services in the Department of Accounting and General Services.
�
Establishes the Hawaii Broadband and Digital
Equity Special Fund.
�
Appropriates funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.