STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2609

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2522
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 2522, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OFFICE OF INFORMATION
     PRACTICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to amend the "Sunshine Law",
chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to protect the public's
right to open government by clarifying requirements that a board
must meet to hold an executive meeting that is closed to the
public.  It also appropriates funds to the Office of Information
Practices.

     Specifically, this bill requires a board to publicly
announce and to record in the minutes the specific reasons for
closing a meeting to the public.  Additionally, the measure
requires a summary of any executive meeting, including members
votes on the decision to hold an executive meeting, to be
included in the minutes and to be made public.  Actions taken in
wilful violation of these requirements will be voidable.

     Your Committee finds that clarifying and strengthening the
law relating to open meeting requirements increases public
confidence in government and guards against excessive or
frivolous use of executive meetings to conduct the people's
business behind closed doors.


 
a                                                      SB2522 SD1
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2609
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2522, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
a                                                      SB2522 SD1