Report Title:

Legislative Subscription Service

Description:

Provides that a reasonable fee may be charged by the legislature for providing "subscription service" to requestors--printed sets of bills, resolutions, committee reports, hearing notices, orders of the day, referral sheets, and other legislative records.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

997

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to legislative information.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that access to bills, resolutions, committee reports, hearing notices, and other legislative documents is essential if citizens are to fully participate in the legislative process. The legislature further finds that these documents have become increasingly more available to the public through internet access at public libraries and through computers at home and at work. As a result, the practice of providing printed copies of legislative documents to the public, without charge, has for the most part become a burden on the taxpayer that is unjustified and unnecessary. The legislature finds that it is not uncommon for organizations to request and receive up to ten sets of every document printed by the legislature during an entire session--all at taxpayer expense.

The purpose of this Act is to allow the legislature to adopt reasonable policies, procedures, and fees for providing the public with copies of legislative documents or "subscription service."

SECTION 2. Chapter 21D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

1. By amending its title to read:

"CHAPTER 21D

[ACCESS/]LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION [SERVICE] SERVICES"

2. By designating sections 21D-1 through 21D-6 as:

"PART I. ACCESS/LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SERVICE"

3. By amending section 21D-1 to read:

"[[]§21D-1[]] Definitions. As used in this [chapter,] part, unless the context requires otherwise:

"ACCESS/legislative information services" means the information service provided by the legislature through on-line information networks; including, without limitation, HAWIAN.

"HAWIAN" means the Hawaii area-wide information network.

"On-line" means accessed by the use of data communications hardware and software."

4. By adding a new part, to be appropriately designated and to read:

"PART II. LEGISLATIVE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

§21D- Policies, procedures, and fees. (a) Each house of the legislature may establish policies, procedures, and fees for subscription services.

(b) For purposes of this part, "subscription service" means a service by which a member of the public is provided with printed sets of bills, resolutions, committee reports, hearing notices, orders of the day, referral sheets, and other printed documents and records of the legislature."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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