HI HR123

Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study determining whether Hawaii needs a state demographer to provide demographic and socioeconomic data to the legislature and public policymakers.

Directs the study to evaluate the pros and cons of creating an Office of the State Demographer and identify which existing agency (State Auditor, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, University of Hawaii, or other) could generate demographic reports.

Identifies potential uses for a state demographer including analyzing homeless services data from two HUD-funded databases and providing periodic reports on kupuna care programs and other state-funded multimillion-dollar programs.

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2021 Regular Session convenes.

Notes that Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, and Texas currently employ state demographers to provide population analysis and related data for policymaking.