HI SB1317

Transfers the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for a temporary four-year period (effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2027).

Appropriates general revenue funds to provide required matching funds for the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program for fiscal year 2023-2024, with additional matching funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 (amounts left blank in bill text).

Appropriates funds received from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for fiscal year 2023-2024 to implement the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program.

Requires the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to convene and chair a working group established under Act 231 (2022) to determine the appropriate governance structure for broadband infrastructure development in Hawaii; adds the lieutenant governor as chair and removes the University of Hawaii and Hawaii broadband office as co-chairs.

Transfers all employees, property, contracts, and obligations of the broadband office to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor with protections for employee tenure and benefits; reverses the transfer on June 30, 2027, returning the office to its original department.