STAND. COM. REP. NO.  584-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 1611

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Legislative Management, to which was referred H.B. No. 1611, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUNSHINE LAW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of state and county boards, while encouraging transparency, by:

     (1)  Allowing board members to attend:

          (A)  Public gatherings and community events that do not relate to matters over which the board is currently exercising its adjudicatory, advisory, or legislative function, as long as the members do not participate in ex parte communications at the public gathering or community event; and

          (B)  Professional-association conferences and professional-development seminars; provided that the board members file a report; and

     (2)  Allowing a public notice of a board meeting to be sent out by e-mail to those persons who request notification of meetings.

Several members of the Maui County Council, the League of Women Voters, and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation testified in support of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the intent of this measure.  The Office of Information Practices opposed this measure.  Americans for Democratic Action/Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Adding provisions to ensure that board members meet the requirements for permitted interactions between board members when attending a public gathering, community event, professional-association conference, or professional-development seminar; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstative amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Legislative Management that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1611, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1611, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Legislative Management,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair