STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1342

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 873

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 873, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTESTED CASES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the use of interactive conference technology for contested case hearings held by state agencies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, Maunakea Observatories, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that interactive conference technology is already being utilized for public meetings under Hawaii's Sunshine Law. Your Committee believes that allowing contested case hearings to be conducted by interactive conference technology will improve efficiency without compromising effectiveness.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3021, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 873, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 873, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair