The Access Hawaii Committee (AHC) exercises its oversight of the portal manager through a transition enabled by the passage of Act 172 of the 2007 Legislature. The AHC operated as an informal committee beginning in July of 2005. Act 110, SLH 2003 (SB1334, HD1), had sunset the AHC on July 1, 2005. Because of the value of the oversight function provided by the AHC, the Committee, during the 2007 Legislative session, submitted draft legislation which the Legislature passed as SB 1315, SD2, HD1, CD1, and which was enacted into law as Act 172 on June 13, 2007. Act 172 re-enacted and codified substantive sections of Act 292, SLH 2000 (SB 2838, SD1, HD1, CD1), which was the original law that established the AHC.
An amendment to the AHC law under Chapter 27G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, was enacted in the 2010 legislative session as Act 101 (HB2505, CD1). The amendment to Chapter 27G created the AHC Special Fund within the Information and Communication Services Division (ICSD) of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) to support the AHC.
The authorization of a position to serve as the portal program manager was requested during the 2011 legislative session. A Governor’s message submitted draft legislation which the Legislature passed as HB 200 HD1, CD1, and which was enacted into law as Act 164 on July 1, 2011.
The portal program contract was awarded through competitive solicitation and effective January 2008 for the initial five-year period. Five contract extensions were approved by the AHC. The effective dates were January 4, 2013 for up to three years, January 4, 2016 for up to three years, January 4, 2019 for one year, January 4, 2020 for up to two years and January 4, 2022 for up to three additional years.
New online government services are continually being added to the portal. The portal’s success has been achieved through the work of NIC Hawaii, in conjunction with the AHC and the business and information technology staffs of the State agencies, the counties, and the Judiciary. NIC Hawaii has continuously identified new online services to be added to the State portal and the AHC has also worked hand-in-hand with NIC Hawaii through the planning, implementation, and operational phases for these services.
As a result, government is more accessible to the public by providing added convenience, allowing citizens to conduct business electronically with the government. Citizens can conduct electronic business with government from their homes and offices, during the State’s business and non-business hours.