SB 1317 Summary

• 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 (July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2027).

• Appropriates general revenue funds and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds to provide required matching funds for the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.

• Requires the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to convene and chair a working group established under Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to determine the appropriate governance structure for broadband infrastructure development in the State.

• Expands the working group membership to include the Lieutenant Governor as chair and removes the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office as co-chairs.

• Becomes effective January 1, 2050, with Part II taking effect July 1, 2023 and all transferred functions reverting back to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism on June 30, 2027.