Report Title:

Legislative Hearings; Studies and Reports

 

Description:

Requires any report of a study or an audit made by an executive department or agency, and by the legislative reference bureau or auditor, to be submitted to the clerk of each house, senate president, speaker of the house, and chairs of the appropriate subject matter committee of each house.  Requires a public hearing or informational briefing, except if waived by the president of the senate.  Excludes certain annual or routine reports.

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1105

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS AND PROCEDURES.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that reports to the legislature of studies and audits conducted by the executive departments and agencies, and by the legislative reference bureau or auditor, including annual reports, may receive no follow-up by the legislature, depending on the significance and importance of any facts, findings, and recommendations.  If a report goes without further consideration by the legislature, the purpose of the report in the first instance is for naught.

     The purpose of this Act is to enact procedures for the filing and consideration of reports of studies and audits conducted by the executive departments and agencies, and by the legislative reference bureau or auditor, including annual reports.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part  .  HEARINGS ON REPORTS

     §21-    Procedures for consideration of reports.  (a)  Reports to the legislature of studies and audits conducted by:

     (1)  The executive departments and agencies;

     (2)  The auditor; or

     (3)  The legislative reference bureau,

that are requested by a resolution or required by statute or by an Act, including an annual report, shall be submitted, at a minimum, to the clerk of each house, to the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives, and to the chair of the applicable subject matter committee of each house.

     (b)  The respective chairs of the committees to whom a report is submitted under subsection (a) shall conduct a public hearing or informational briefing on the report during the legislative session or during the legislative interim in which the report is submitted within one year of receipt.  Waivers for a public hearing or briefing may be granted by the president of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives, as appropriate; provided that the reasons for granting any waiver shall be posted on the legislature's website and publicly noticed at the capitol.

     §21-    Applicability; reports excluded.  This part shall not apply to annual reports or reports of a routine nature as prepared by executive departments, boards, or agencies; provided that the chair of any committee shall not be precluded from holding a public hearing or informational briefing on a report."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by designating sections 21-1 to 21-19 as follows:

"PART I.  INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEES"

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________