STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1024-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2924
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Business
Concerns, to which was referred S.B. No. 2924, S.D. 1, entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to:

     (1)  Assist public agencies by eliminating the requirement
          that a board adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91,
          Hawaii Revised Statutes, regarding meetings held by
          videoconference before a meeting can be held; and 

     (2)  Clarify that the public may attend a meeting held by
          videoconference at any location at which board members
          will be physically present during the videoconference
          meeting.

     The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General,
the Office of Information Practices, the University of Hawaii,
and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii testified in support of
the bill.  The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii testified in support
of the intent of the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by deleting its
contents and replacing it with the contents of H.B. No. 2583,
H.D. 2, which was reported from the House after public hearings
before your Committees on Economic Development and Business

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1024-00
                                 Page 2

 
Concerns and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.  H.B. No. 2583, H.D.
2, is substantially similar to S.B. No. 2924, S.D. 1, except for
minor technical, nonsubstantive differences.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development and Business Concerns that is
attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the
intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2924, S.D. 1, as amended herein,
and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached
hereto as S.B. No. 2924, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the
Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development and Business
                                   Concerns,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair