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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
188 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION
AMENDING THE RULES OF THE hOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO TEMPORARILY ALLOW REMOTE participation.
WHEREAS, in a matter of months, the COVID-19 pandemic swiftly spread around the world, including the United States, and consequently put the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Hawaii at risk; and
WHEREAS, as of June 18, 2020, there have been seventeen deaths and seven hundred sixty-two cases of COVID-19 in the State alone; and
WHEREAS, state and county officials have implemented several emergency measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including stay-at-home orders, mandated social distancing measures, a mandatory fourteen-day quarantine for travelers, and the closure of all nonessential businesses; and
WHEREAS, in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's social distancing recommendations to diminish the risk of spreading COVID-19, the Legislature recessed the Regular Session of 2020, beginning March 17, 2020; and
WHEREAS, since March 23, 2020, the State Capitol has been closed to the public; and
WHEREAS, after nearly two months in an extended recess, the Legislature briefly reconvened the Regular Session of 2020 on May 11, 2020, to address a number of critical issues, including the State's projected $1,000,000,000 budget shortfall and the receipt of federal economic and financial relief under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Public Law 116-136, and subsequent federal stimulus measures; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature passed several measures before it recessed for a second extended period beginning May 22, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has not yet adjourned the Regular Session of 2020 sine die and stands ready to reconvene at a moment's notice; and
WHEREAS, however, in addition to its concerns about social distancing, the House recognizes that nearly one-third of its representatives live on a neighbor island and must travel to Oahu when the Legislature is in session; and
WHEREAS, several legislative chambers, including the Hawaii State Senate, have amended their legislative operations to allow remote participation or voting in response to health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness continues to hold and successfully broadcast meetings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing remote videoconferencing technology; and
WHEREAS, Article III, Section 12 of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii specifically grants to each chamber the power to determine the rules of its proceedings; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the House of Representatives hereby amends the Rules of the House of Representatives by adding a new part XIV to read as follows:
"PART XIV. REMOTE PARTICIPATION
Rule 61. Remote Participation.
61.1. Committee Meetings.
(1) A committee meeting may be conducted in which one or more members of the committee participate in the meeting remotely upon the approval of the Speaker or the Speaker's designee.
(2) A member participating remotely shall be considered present and in attendance at the committee meeting, including for purposes of determining if a quorum is present and voting.
(1) A floor session may be conducted in which one or more members of the House participate in the session remotely by videoconference upon the approval of the Speaker or the Speaker's designee.
(2) A member participating remotely shall be considered present and in attendance at the floor session, including for purposes of determining if a quorum is present and voting.
61.3. Repeal.
This part shall be repealed on January 19, 2021."
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OFFERED BY: |
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House Rules; Remote Participation; Repeals on Adjournment Sine Die