Report Title:

Public Informational Meetings; Notice Required

Description:

In addition to giving notice of a regular, special, or rescheduled meeting, requires a board to post a public notice of its intent to hold an informational meeting.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1232

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

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. The legislature finds that public access to government proceedings is essential to foster public understanding and confidence in government, enable citizens to have access to government information, and ensure that the State has an informed citizenry and electorate. In order for citizens to attend a government meeting, they must have public notice of the meeting. However, state law requires a public notice only for meetings that are convened "to make a decision or to deliberate toward a decision", which some agencies have interpreted to exclude informational meetings or briefing.

The legislature further finds that in addition to the exclusion of informational-only meetings from statutory public notice requirements, the agency is also not required to accept oral testimony from the public at such a meeting, which may be appropriate given the nature of such a meeting. The legislature believes that it should be the policy of the State that government agencies be required to give public notice for informational meetings or briefings without requiring receipt of oral testimony at these meetings.

The purpose of this Act is to require public notice of an informational meeting or briefing of a board under section 92-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 2. 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, or any executive meeting when anticipated in advance[.], or any informational meeting or briefing. 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 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 Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.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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