by Pam Greenberg
The Hawaii Senate has become the first legislative chamber to have a "Majority Technology Leader." Hawaii Senate President Colleen Hanabusa created the new leadership position for the 2009 Legislative Session, naming Senator David Ige (photo) to the post. Ige served as technology liaison for the Senate's paperless initiative in 2007 and led a number of other technology initiatives for the Senate.
Senator Les Ihara, Jr. gave a presentation on the Senate's paperless project for members of NCSL's Legislative Effectiveness Committee at the recent Fall Forum meeting in Atlanta. The initiative resulted in a 60 percent reduction in paper, as reported in the Senate Majority Caucus blog. The Senate invested in tablet PCs for each Senator and enhanced wireless capability in conference rooms and the chamber. During floor sessions, most senators access daily orders of the day via the laptops. In 2008, the Senate also piloted a paperless project in two committees. All the committee hearings were managed via interactive agendas on laptops, and almost all paper folders of bills and testimony were eliminated. In 2009, all committees will be paperless.
Other states also have taken steps toward going paperless, as reported in a State Legislatures magazine article in 2007.
While the title of majority technology leader is unique among the states, it fits a pattern of the Hawaii Senate using lots of leadership titles. In addition to technology leader, the Senate leadership web page lists the president, a vice president, majority leader, majority policy leader, majority caucus leader, two majority whips, not to mention a president emeritus.
First of all I would like to congratulate Hawaii Senate for becoming the first legislative chamber to have a "Majority Technology Leader." The projects seems to be very interesting and it will be very successful.All the best for future.
Lisa11
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Posted by: Lisa11 | December 23, 2008 at 05:12 AM