S.R. No. 176 Summary

• Requests the State Office of Enterprise Technology Services and Legislative Reference Bureau to collaborate on providing videoconference access enabling neighbor island residents to participate in legislative hearings and sessions.

• Directs both offices to identify and recommend the best state office building locations on Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, and rural Oahu to provide telecommunication services access.

• Requires a joint report with recommendations for necessary legislation to be submitted to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2021 Regular Session convenes.

• Addresses accessibility challenges for residents on separate islands to engage with the centralized state government located in Honolulu.