Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1044 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide for publication, hardcopy, and internet access of executive communications within five days of issuance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two members of Hawaii Pro-Democracy Initiative and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that executive orders, gubernatorial proclamations, and executive messages are unquestionably public documents. Public knowledge of, and accessibility to these documents, however, is very limited. Your Committee further finds that public awareness and access to these documents would foster a better understanding of the actions taken by the governor and the governor's administration, and would allow citizens to be proactive in areas of concern. This bill promotes public confidence in government through open and accessible government records.

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. 1044 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.