STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2135

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2710

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 2710 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOARD MEETINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to facilitate public meetings of a board or commission by expanding the current authority to meet by videoconference to meet by interactive conference technology, which includes any form of audio or visual conference technology.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the State Boards and Commissions Manager, Board of Education, Department of Human Services, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, High Technology Development Corporation, Office of Veterans Services, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association.  The Office of Information Practices submitted comments.

     Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that interactive conference technology would assist Hawaii's hundreds of boards and commissions by providing a less restrictive alternative in conducting meetings.  This is particularly critical for boards and commissions with representatives from neighbor islands, as the costs of travel related expenses, which are generally reimbursed to the members, have increased dramatically in recent years.  In addition, the current staffing and operational cuts in state agency budgets have further limited travel and other costs for board and commission members and staff who support these activities.  Your Committee believes that the use of interactive conference technology would decrease costs while assisting the members of state boards and commissions, as well as the general public, in increasing participation for all.

     Your Committee has considered the request to add language to allow meetings to continue if a remote participant voluntarily terminates an interactive connection and a quorum for the meeting is still present and connected.  Your Committee finds, however, this is adequately covered in general quorum requirements, and is not restricted to meetings conducted by interactive conference technology.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2710, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2710, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Technology,

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair