THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

628

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  State boards and commissions provide an opportunity for a cross-section of Hawaii's residents to offer vital input and provide a means of influencing decisions that shape the quality of life for the residents of Hawaii.  The governor nominates and appoints more than one hundred seventy boards and commissions established by the Hawaii State Constitution, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and executive orders.  While the term for most boards and commissions is four years, term length varies by board or commission.

     The legislature finds that it is imperative that members of boards and commissions are appropriately and timely nominated and appointed to enable the boards and commissions to meet and conduct business.

     The legislature further finds that an accurate and comprehensive membership list of all state boards and commissions that is monitored and maintained will ensure government accountability, transparency, and efficiency.

     SECTION 2.  Section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  A vacancy occurring in the membership of any board or commission during a term shall be [filled]:

     (1)  Promptly reported to the governor by the head of the department in which the board or commission is placed or administratively attached; and

     (2)  Filled for the unexpired term thereof, subject to Article V, section 6 of the Constitution of the State."

     SECTION 3.  Section 27-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The duties of the special advisor shall include but not be limited to:

     (1)  Developing, coordinating, and implementing short- and long-range state policies and directions to enhance the development of high technology industries in Hawaii;

     (2)  Coordinating all state high technology agencies while developing a plan for reorganization or consolidation of these agencies in the interests of greater efficiency and cost effectiveness;

     (3)  Advising the private sector in the development of high technology activities and resources and providing technical or other assistance to private industry upon request;

     (4)  Creating, disseminating, and updating a listing of all high technology assistance programs in the State and where they can be reached;

     (5)  Pursuing appropriate public-private sector business partnerships;

     (6)  Coordinating the State's promotion and marketing of the high technology industry, including a review of current marketing efforts;

     (7)  Arranging for the conduct of research through contractual services with the University of Hawaii or any agency or other qualified persons;

     (8)  Encouraging the development of educational, training, and career programs in high technology industries; [and]

     (9)  Assisting the governor in creating, disseminating, and updating a list of all boards and commissions that shall include the following information:

         (A)  The names of the members of each board or commission;

         (B)  Each member's date of appointment, length of term, and position;

         (C)  Current vacancies on each board or commission;

         (D)  Appointing or nominating authority for each board or commission;

         (E)  Newly created or adopted boards or commissions and their composition;

         (F)  Citations to the statutory or constitutional provisions that established each board or commission and other relevant laws relating to the appointment or nominating criteria for each board or commission; and

         (G)  Statutory changes affecting the composition, quorum, or term limits of a board or commission; and

    [(9)] (10)  Performing other necessary or desirable functions to facilitate the intent of this section."

     SECTION 4.  Section 30-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§30-4[]]  Duties of outgoing governor.  It shall be incumbent upon the outgoing governor to:

     (1)  Provide channels enabling the governor-elect to:

         (A)  Inform career civil servants of governor-elect's program goals and new policies;

         (B)  Effect communication channels with the administration of the governor.  The governor-elect may obtain information from the governor's administration by circulating questionnaires or by other means.  Information sought may include any questions [which] that will effect the intent of the legislature in enacting this legislation, as expressed in section 30-1.  [Such] The contacts may also include inquiries designed to elicit descriptions of programs, recommendations, and justifications for elimination, curtailment, or expansion of services, projections of future developments or needs within program areas, recommendations for administrative changes, comments upon anticipated federal developments which might have program or budgetary implications for state programs, and elaboration of procedural details[.]; and

         (C)  Appoint individuals to fill vacancies occurring in the membership of boards and commissions.  The governor shall provide the governor-elect with an up-to-date list of information on boards' and commissions' memberships, terms of service, and any pending vacancies in accordance with section 27-41; and

     (2)  Direct that official documents, vital information, and procedural manuals be given to the governor-elect upon the governor-elect's request."

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to manage the listing of information on all state boards and commissions.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of the governor for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Boards and Commissions; Vacancy; Governor; Database; Listing; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires department heads to inform the governor of any vacancy in any board or commission.  Requires the governor to maintain a listing of all boards and commissions including specified information.  Appropriates funds for 1.0 FTE position to manage listing information for boards and commissions.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.