Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 797 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to clarify the scope of subpoena powers of state and county legislative bodies by removing obsolete loyalty oath references, which were found in repealed Chapter 85, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS).

Seven members of the Maui County Council testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that the law has been interpreted to require the loyalty oath for subpoena powers. Since the requirement for a loyalty oath no longer exists, certain county councils have not been able to compel county officials to appear before the council or its committees. This bill will remove any confusion about the interpretation of this section.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 797 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.