STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2080

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 335

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 335, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure equal access to opportunities to participate in public board meetings by requiring that:

(1) Public meeting notices include instructions on how to request an auxiliary aid or service or accommodation due to a disability;

(2) State and county boards post a notice in the board's office and in an accessible format on an electronic calendar on a website maintained by the State or county, file the notice with the Lieutenant Governor's office or county clerk's office, and retain proof of filing;

(3) The Lieutenant Governor's office or the county clerk's office timely post paper or accessible electronic copies of all meeting notices in a central location in a public building; and

(4) An emergency meeting agenda be filed with the Lieutenant Governor's office or the county clerk's office and posted in the board's office.

The Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission and an individual submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Information Practices, and Disability and Communication Access Board submitted comments on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 335, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair