2019-01-28 Letter to Senator Jarrett Keohokalole SB 337 Relating to the Legislature (Establishing a Remote Legislative Access Program) (2)

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Harry Kim Mayor County of Pakii`i Wil Okabe Managing Director Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director ( fftrr of fIr 41li ur 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 January 30, 2019 Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, Chair Committee on Technology Hawai'i State Capitol Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Dear Chair Keohokalole and Committee Members: Re: SB 337 Relating to the Legislature (Establishing a Remote Legislative Access Program) Hearing Date: January 31, 2019 — 2:45 PM; Senate Conference Room 414 Article I, Section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawai'i provides that "All political power of this State is inherent in the people and the responsibility for the exercise thereof rests with the people." In that spirit, and over the course of its history, the Hawaii State Legislature has been dedicated to assuring citizen participation in its activities, and has often been at the forefront of innovations that enhance that participation and make it more effective. Technology has now reached the point where persons with disabilities, residents of rural Oahu, and even more so, neighbor island residents, can be enabled to more fully participate in the legislative process without experiencing inconvenient, expensive and/or time-consuming travel to the Capitol. Exactly how that should be done, without jeopardizing the need for an expeditious legislative process, may require further thought and deliberations, and that is exactly what SB 337 would allow. SB 337 does not presuppose a method, but neither is it just another "study." Truly action oriented, it mandates the outcome that "There is established in the state capitol a remote legislative access program that shall become part of the legislature's public access program," and then leaves it to a joint committee to figure out the details. That is the kind of balance that this Legislature is known for and can be proud of. An earlier generation of Hawaii leaders recognized that all residents of the State deserved equal educational opportunities, regardless of where they lived. Now this generation of leaders is better assuring that all have equal access to their government. Thank you for taking this next step. I hope you will approve SB 337. Resctfullresubmitted, Harry Kim Mayor, County of Hawaii County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.