Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2336 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to amend Hawaii's Sunshine Law to allow boards and commissions to conduct on-site inspections at which public attendance is impractical which relate to a matter under a board's supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power as long as the board or commission:

(1) Specifies its reasons for the on-site inspection;

(2) Provides a public notice;

(3) Keeps minutes of the inspections;

(5) Makes no decision at the inspection.

The Office of Information Practices testified in support of this bill.

Your Committee finds that situations arise when a board must perform an on-site visit as a part of its official functions at locations where public participation would be both hazardous and impractical. This bill would allow boards and commissions to continue their work in these circumstances.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2336 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.