REPORT TITLE:
Testimony, State Agencies


DESCRIPTION:
Adopts an official state policy encouraging all state agencies to
adopt rules allowing the receipt of testimony and other
communications via electronic transmission.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.866        
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO STATE INFORMATION POLICY.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding
 
 2 a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as
 
 3 follows:
 
 4                            "CHAPTER 
 
 5                        INFORMATION POLICY
 
 6      § -1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter:
 
 7      "State agency" means any department, agency, board, or
 
 8 commission of the executive branch; the legislature; and the
 
 9 judiciary, but does not mean the counties.
 
10      "Testimony and other communications" means any type of
 
11 public input into the governmental process.
 
12      § -2 Policy.  It shall be the policy of the State to
 
13 encourage communication from its residents in the decisionmaking
 
14 aspects of its functions.  Hawaii, as a geographically divided
 
15 state, must be sensitive and open to new methods of technology
 
16 for the rapid and accurate transmission of communications in ways
 
17 that are the least burdensome for the public.  These
 
18 technological advances afford significant opportunities to
 
19 government to deliver, prompt, efficient, and responsive services
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.866        
                                                        
                                                        


 1 to the public.  To that end, each state agency is encouraged to
 
 2 adopt rules and policies for the acceptance of testimony and
 
 3 other communications appropriate for that agency through
 
 4 technologically advanced methods, including, but not limited to
 
 5 electronic transmissions such as email and the internet.  Nothing
 
 6 in this chapter shall be construed as requiring any state agency,
 
 7 in the absence of its own rules, to accept electronic testimony
 
 8 or other communications.
 
 9      § -3 Technological assistance.  A state agency may seek
 
10 the advice of public and private entities to assist them with the
 
11 installation of technology for the acceptance of electronic
 
12 testimony and other communications and to establish rules on
 
13 their usage."
 
14      SECTION 2.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
15 
 
16                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________