Bill Text: HI SB2710 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Sunshine Law; Testimony; Quorum; Meetings

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-03-03 - (H) Referred to JUD, FIN, referral sheet 36 [SB2710 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2710-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2606

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2710

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 2710, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOARD MEETINGS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to facilitate public meetings of a board or commission by expanding the current authority to meet by videoconference, to meet by interactive conference technology, which includes any form of audio or visual conference technology.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from three state departments, two state agencies, two private entities, and one individual.  Comments were received from one state agency.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure would facilitate the attendance by board members at board meetings.  This is particularly critical for boards and commissions with representatives from neighbor islands, as the costs of travel related expenses, which are generally reimbursed to the members, have increased dramatically in recent years.  In addition, the current staffing and operational cuts in state agency budgets have further limited travel and other costs for board and commission members and staff who support these activities. 

 

     Your Committee notes the concerns expressed by the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation that board meetings should be allowed to continue if the audio communication was voluntarily terminated and a quorum for the meeting is still preserved.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050 to continue the discussions on this matter.  Your Committee has also amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2710, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2710, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

 

		____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair