Report Title:

Legislative Hearings; Procedure

Description:

Requires 72-hour waiting period between introduction and any vote on appropriation or revenue bill, at least 24 hours between amendment proposal and any vote to adopt, and 48 hours between striking amendment proposal and any vote to adopt.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2742
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that public participation in the legislative process improves the quality of proposed legislation.  An opportunity for meaningful public review prior to a hearing or vote on any proposed legislation helps to increase public trust in government, and ensures that the legislature operates with the transparency, dignity, and order befitting the State.  It follows that there should be no hearing or vote on any appropriation and revenue-related bill until at least seventy-two hours after the bill's introduction, in order to give the public ample opportunity to review and comment on proposed legislation.

     This Act shall be known and referred to as the "Seventy‑Two-Hour Budget Review Act."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated to read as follows:

     "§21‑   Hearings or votes on appropriation and revenue-related bills; procedures. (a)  A legislative body shall not hold a hearing or vote on an appropriation or revenue-related bill until at least seventy‑two hours after the bill has been introduced and made publicly available.

(b)  No amendment offered to an appropriation or revenue‑related bill shall be taken into consideration by any legislative body unless it was made publicly available at least twenty-four hours prior to any vote taken.

(c)  No striking amendment shall not be taken into consideration by any legislative body unless it was made publicly available at least forty-eight hours prior to any vote taken.

(d)  The time periods described in this section:

(1) Shall exclude any day that is a Saturday, Sunday, or official state holiday, unless the legislative body considering the measure is in session on such a day;

(2) Shall apply each time a new version of an appropriation or revenue-related bill is considered, which shall include consideration of any conference recommendations; and

(3) May be waived upon a two-thirds vote of the legislative body considering the bill.  For measures that are adopted making use of the waiver authorized under this subsection, the text and the committee report of the bill shall be amended where appropriate to add the text:  "this committee has waived the people's right for a detailed review of this measure as required under the Seventy-Two-Hour Budget Review Act.

(e)  As used in this section:

"Legislative body" means the legislature, its respective houses, and any committees established thereunder.

"Publicly available" means the proposed legislation has been posted on the legislature's website and published in a bill report, committee report, or conference report.

"Revenue-related bill" or "revenue-related measure" means any bill aimed at raising revenue for any operating, capital, or transportation expense.

"Striking amendment" means any amendment that would delete all text after the title of a bill and insert new text."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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