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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1170 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that every year laws are enacted that require new studies and audits of various state government departments or agencies. Conducting and completing many of these studies and audits require an appropriation and also consume valuable time and resources of the department, agency, office, or branch of government tasked with preparing the study or audit. The legislature also finds that the resultant report is often not widely reviewed by the legislature or public and can sometimes go completely unnoticed despite the fact that these reports can contain valuable information. The legislature further finds that mandating a public hearing or informational briefing which would facilitate discussion and analysis of the report findings and recommendations would better serve the public interest.
The purpose of this Act is to require a public hearing or informational briefing on certain audit reports and studies enacted with an appropriation within one year of the receipt of the report or study in order to properly review and consider the information provided therein.
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 or briefings ON REPORTS
§21- Procedures for consideration of reports. (a) For any study or audit enacted with a legislative appropriation to fund the study or audit, including those studies or audits in any budget measure, and which are conducted by:
(1) The executive departments and agencies, including the Hawaii health systems corporation;
(2) The auditor;
(3) The judiciary;
(4) The legislative reference bureau; or
(5) The Office of Hawaiian Affairs,
the state agency completing the study or audit shall submit the report to the chair of the applicable subject matter committee of each chamber and if no chair is currently appointed to such committee, then to the presiding officer of that chamber. The report shall also be in compliance with the requirements of section 93-16.
(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 within one year of the chair receiving the report. Upon request of the chair, a one-year extension of time or waiver of the requirement to conduct a public hearing or informational 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 the granting a one-year extension of time or waiver of the requirement under this part shall be posted on the legislature's website and publicly noticed at the state capitol."
SECTION 3. Chapter 21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by designating sections 21-1 to 21-19 as part I, entitled "Investigating Committees".
SECTION 4. Sections 21-1, 21-2, 21-6, 21-13, 21-15, and 21-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are amended by substituting the word "part" wherever the word "chapter" appears, as the context requires.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Government Accountability; Legislative Hearings; Studies and Reports; Waiver
Description:
Requires any report of a study or an audit enacted with a legislative appropriation and conducted by an executive department or agency, including the Hawaii health systems corporation, and by the legislative reference bureau, auditor, judiciary, or Office of Hawaiian Affairs, to be submitted to the senate president, speaker of the house, chairs of the appropriate subject matter committee of each house, and the legislative reference bureau library. Requires a public hearing or informational briefing within one year of receipt of report, except if extension granted to the hearing or briefing requirement by the senate president or speaker of the house of representatives or if the requirement is waived by the senate president or speaker of the house of representative. (SD2)
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