Report Title:

Public Agency Meetings; Informational Briefing

 

Description:

Requires informational briefings to be included in public notice requirement of open meetings law. Defines informational briefing.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

899

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to public agency meetings.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Findings and purpose. The stated policy of the open meetings law contained in chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is that the formation and conduct of public policy --the discussions, deliberations, decisions, and action of governmental agencies -- shall be conducted as openly as possible. The information gathering process is one aspect to the formation of policy where public scrutiny and participation is not fully achieved. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that informational briefings, where the board is convened for the purpose of receiving information that may be used toward a decision upon a matter over which the board has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power, shall be subject to the notice requirements of the open meetings law.

SECTION 2. Section 92-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Informational briefing" means the convening of the board, whether or not a quorum is required, for the purpose of receiving information that may be used toward a decision upon a matter over which the board has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power."

SECTION 3. Section 92-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The board shall give written public notice of any regular, special, or rescheduled meeting, any informational briefing, or any executive meeting when anticipated in advance. The notice shall include an agenda which lists all of the items to be considered at the forthcoming meeting, the date, time, and place of the meeting, and in the case of an executive meeting the purpose shall be stated."

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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