Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 190 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt the counties from the requirement that public notices be published in a publication designated by the state comptroller.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii State Association of Counties, three members of the Maui County Council, and the Hawaii Newspaper Agency. Opposing testimony was received from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

Your Committee finds that the current law relating to publication of notices does not adequately mesh with county rules and ordinances. For example, counties are currently required to use the publication services of an organization determined by the state comptroller that provides weekly publications. However, the City and County of Honolulu Charter requires public notices to be published in a daily publication. In addition, there are concerns that the weekly publication chosen by the state comptroller may not reach neighbor island residents.

Therefore, your Committee finds that counties should be allowed additional flexibility for public notices. Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing its contents with provisions that:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 190, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 190, S.D. 1.