HR243.DOC

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that meaningful participation in a democracy requires that government processes be open to public scrutiny; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes it is the responsibility of government through its executive, legislative, and judicial branches, to ensure that the residents of all islands have fair access to government information, services, and proceedings; and

WHEREAS, despite recent progress in efforts to make it easier for citizens to participate in the legislative process, many people still find it difficult to actively involve themselves; and

WHEREAS, since residents of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, Niihau, and rural Oahu are disadvantaged because of their location away from the seat of government in Honolulu, the State wishes to ensure that the legislative process facilitates the access and uncomplicated participation by all citizens; and

WHEREAS, while Hawaii's centralized system of state government provides for efficient coordination of government functions and services, especially for a population spread out over separate islands, the system faces challenges relating to accessibility and delivery of government information, services, and proceedings to residents living on the neighbor islands as well as rural Oahu, in part because of the centralized location of the state government in Honolulu's urban core; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has a proud history of involving as many people from the public as possible, as is evident from the following brief timeline of key events that helped incorporate more public participation:

· April 28-30, 1989: Public dissatisfaction for legislative secrecy surfaces in The Honolulu Advertiser;

· July 1, 1989: Special Legislative Access Committee created by Act 331, Session Laws of Hawaii 1989;

· 1990 Legislative Session: Citizens' Guide published, toll-free 1-800 numbers offered for neighbor islands, legislative testimony accepted by fax, public parking stalls added in Capitol basement, Capitol printshops adopted citizen hours, conference committees ended by midnight, ACCESS computer system and AudioACCESS opened to public, Public Access Room opened in Capitol basement, and public libraries implemented ACCESS availability and offered free fax service for legislative testimony;

· March 5, 1993: Committee hearing broadcasted on 'Ōlelo for the first time;

· December 1996: Legislature opened its website;

· January 21, 1999: Senate started to provide hearing notices by e-mail;

· 2000 Session: Legislature started to accept e-mail testimony;

· January 2001: Second full-time, year-round Public Access Room staff position added; and

· 2003 Session: Workshops on neighbor islands organized to help residents become more effective and informed participants in their legislative governance;

now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that all hearings and floor sessions of the House of Representatives be broadcast through the Internet or public television to increase citizen awareness, participation, and transparency in state affairs beginning with the Regular Session of 2012; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, President of the Senate, the Board of Directors of 'Ōlelo Community Television, and members of the Access Hawaii Committee.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Public Openness in Legislative Affairs

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	243
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII