RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, openness in government proceedings is the hallmark of public trust in government; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature, as the law-making branch of government, is a keeper of the public trust; and

WHEREAS, Chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), relating to public meeting requirements, commonly referred to as the "sunshine law", specifically subordinates open meeting requirements to the respective rules of each House of the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, public confidence in the Legislature would be enhanced immensely if a task force were to examine ways in which the Legislature could become more open and accessible; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that there be created a temporary, bipartisan Joint Legislative Task Force (Task Force) to conduct a study of legislative hearings and procedures with a view toward recommending legislation to enhance openness in hearings, including public accessibility to written correspondence thereto; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force be composed of six members, three from the Senate and three from the House, to be chosen by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force conduct its meetings in accordance with Chapter 92, HRS; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force report its finding and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007.

Report Title:

Legislative Hearings; Sunshine Law