[luau] Open Source Legislation

[R. Scott Belford]

The House is currently considering a bill that requests a cost/benefit 
study of the use of Open Source software in our government.

HB1739

can be queried here.

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/docs.asp?press1=docs

It is currently in the Finance Committee.  It makes no mandate.  It 
simply acknowledges OSS and provides funding for a DOE pilot project. 
It currently has no funding.  While it may seem ludicrous to research 
the benefits of something that is "free," committee and House members 
need a formal and tangible assessment, with metrics, to make meaningful 
future legislation.

The key text:

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate $50,000 to establish a pilot 
project in the department of education to establish a policy supporting 
purchase and use of open source software applications within the 
department of education.

If you have five minutes, confirm who your legislators are

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/vstreet/voterinformation.asp?press1=info&press2=vstreet

and let your House representative know that you support this 
legislation.  If your House Representative is on the Finance Committee,

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/comm/commFIN.asp?press1=house&press2=comm

it would be especially helpful for you to offer your support.  Email is 
fine.  Your own words, brief and to the point, (they are busy and just 
need your primary reason(s) for supporting it) would be best, I think.

Something along the lines of

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Dear Representative X,

I am one of your constituents, and I am writing you to offer my support 
of HB 1739.  The Bill requests that a small pilot project be created in 
the DOE to evaluate use and support of Open Source Software.  I believe 
this bill should be passed because

- OSS provides nearly the same functionality as other software, and it 
comes at no cost to the state.

- we need more information to consider the costs/benefits of integrating 
this technology into our government.

- OSS is free and it just as usable as what we already have in place.

- OSS is free, and our economy will benefit from students capable of 
managing information with OSS technologies that come at no cost to the 
business

- OSS has a revolutionary/unique philosophy of development that is 
inherently adaptable by our students and businessess

- etc., etc., etc.,

Sincerely

your name

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Please make some time for this, if you can.


graciously

--scott

R. Scott Belford
PR Director
The Hawaii Open Source Education Foundation