Report Title:
Right of Access; Right of Inspection
Description:
Proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a public right of access to meetings held by a public body and a right to inspect records of official government business.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
658 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH A public RIGHT OF ACCESS TO MEETINGS of a public body and RIGHT TO INSPECT records of official government business.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that public access to the workings of government should be open to the greatest extent possible. Government rules only with the consent of the people, and so the people's interest in the system it supports should be paramount.
The legislature further finds that, subject to limited exceptions, the public has a statutory right to participate in any meeting held by a public body, and the right to inspect and copy records of those meetings. The purpose of this Act is to elevate these privileges to a constitutional right.
SECTION 2. The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to establish a public right of access to meetings of government bodies, and to access records of official government business.
SECTION 3. The Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended by adding a new section to article XVI to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"RIGHT OF ACCESS
Section . All persons shall have the right of public access to all meetings of public bodies. All persons, or persons acting on their behalf, shall have the right to inspect and copy public records made or received in connection with official business of public bodies."
SECTION 4. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:
"Shall the constitution guarantee the right of the people to access all meetings held by a public body, and to inspect and copy public records of official business of public bodies?"
SECTION 5. New constitutional material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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