STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1815

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 712

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 712, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Encourage state boards to maintain recordings of board meetings on the board's website regardless of whether the written minutes of the meeting have been posted;

 

     (2)  Require state boards to provide the State Archives with a copy of any recording of a board meeting before removing the recording from the board's website; and

 

     (3)  Require the written minutes of board meetings to include a link to the electronic audio or video recording, if available online.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Public Safety, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, and three individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices and Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committees find that the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct (Commission) was established to provide recommendations that would increase the level of transparency in government operations and accountability of individuals by recommending clear standards of conduct.  Among the Commission's recommendations were that an electronic audio or video recording of a public board meeting be maintained as a public record and posted, regardless of whether the written minutes of the board meeting have been posted.  This measure takes steps towards strengthening the public's trust in government institutions by opening the governmental process to public scrutiny and participation. 

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 712, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary,

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair

 

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair