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State adds
By Richard Borreca
Web site features
Star-BulletinSaying they want you "online, not in a line" state officials are adding more features to the state's new Internet site, eHawaiiGov.com
At a news conference yesterday at the state Capitol, Gov. Ben Cayetano signed a new law that authorizes the state to formally launch a Web portal for consumers to travel to local government resources.
Internet users can now research local businesses, check on a business' certificate of good standing, make sure an insurance salesperson has the proper license and soon also check the registered sex-offender database.
All costs for the Web site are the responsibility of the Hawaii Information Consortium, which is owned by the National Information Consortium in Overland Park, Kan.
The firm has agreements with 10 other states: Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Georgia, Arkansas, Virginia, Iowa, Utah, Idaho and Maine.
An oversight committee appointed by Cayetano will coordinate the consortium and the state departments using the eHawaii portal.
The state pays nothing for the site, Cayetano said. All profits for the company come from fees charged for certain transactions. Although no fees have been set yet, the plan is to charge for the extra convenience of using the Internet.
For instance, you can stand in line to get a new license, or use the Internet for a fee.
Also government services that already have fees will be available over the Internet for an extra convenience fee.
Officials yesterday said there may also be fees added for transactions that would be without charge if processed in person today. For instance, a camping permit would not cost anything today, but over the Internet's eHawaiiGov portal there is a possibility that a convenience fee will be assessed.
Cayetano said he has ordered state departments to make all state services available over the Internet by June 30, 2002.
eHawaiiGov.com
www.hawaii.gov
