Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred H.B. No. 1765, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the expiration of the term of a state board member for the failure, without valid excuse, to attend two consecutive meetings duly noticed by the board where failure to attend results in a non quorum of the board.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Human Resources Development. Testimony in opposition was received from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the obligation to attend board meetings is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly by board members, who were appointed and confirmed based in major part upon their willingness to serve and dedication to public service. If the absences were without valid excuse and there was no quorum as a result, the matter becomes all the more serious.

Your Committee has amended this measure by providing for three unexcused absences, as determined in the discretion of the chair. Testimony indicated that two absences would give the chair undue power to determine what is an excusable absence.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1765, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1765, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.