THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	168
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the legislative reference bureau to conduct a study on the feasibility of a continuous legislative session.

WHEREAS, the legislative process allows Hawaii's people to engage with policy to create meaningful change for the State; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to article III, section 10, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Legislature only has sixty to seventy-five session days, generally stretching from the middle of January until early May to conduct its business during a regular session; and

WHEREAS, the compressed, rushed legislative process may inhibit the public from participating and advocating at the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, individuals who are not full-time employed in advocacy may have an easier time participating in the legislative process if the timetable and deadlines were not as compressed; and

WHEREAS, efficiency, productivity, orderliness, and transparency of the Legislature could be improved by requiring that the Legislature be in session during every month of the year; and

WHEREAS, creating greater transparency of the legislative process for State's citizens will allow more individuals to engage in the policymaking process while also creating more opportunities for legislators to make informed policy decisions; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to conduct a study on the feasibility of a continuous legislative session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study is requested to examine functions of continuous legislatures in other states in comparison to Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study is also requested to determine, if any, an increase in productivity of the legislative session by allowing more time for the legislative process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit the study to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Continuous Legislative Session; Legislative Reference Bureau; Study