Bill Text: HI SB1427 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To The Sunshine Law.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-01-30 - Referred to GVO, JDC. [SB1427 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2023-SB1427-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1427 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE SUNSHINE LAW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the house of representatives adopted House Resolution No. 9 (2022) to establish the commission to improve standards of conduct. The resolution requests the commission ensure state laws and rules relating to standards of conduct of public officers and employees contain clear standards, enforcement, and penalties and provide recommendations to increase awareness of, compliance with, and deterrent effects of the code of ethics, lobbying laws, campaign finance laws, and other relevant laws and rules.
Pursuant to House Resolution No. 9, the
commission to improve standards of conduct convened regularly throughout 2022
to diligently review, discuss, and consider the issues presented, submitted an
interim report to the house of representatives outlining areas of immediate and
long-term focus, then continued its work with input from the public and invited
individuals and agencies to issue a final report with various recommendations
and accompanying proposed legislation.
The legislature also finds that the strength and stability of our democratic government rely upon the public's trust in government institutions, including the expectation that officers act ethically with prudence, integrity, and sound judgement. Therefore, an essential goal of the commission was to provide recommendations that would help restore public trust in state government and increase the level of transparency in its operations and accountability of individuals.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to implement recommendations of the commission to improve standards of conduct relating to expanded application of the State's sunshine law to legislatively appointed bodies.
SECTION 2. Section 92-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§92-10 Legislative branch; legislatively appointed bodies; applicability. (a) Notwithstanding any provisions contained in this chapter to the contrary, open meeting requirements, and provisions regarding enforcement, penalties and sanctions, as they are to relate to the state legislature or to any of its members shall be such as shall be from time to time prescribed by the respective rules and procedures of the senate and the house of representatives, which rules and procedures shall take precedence over this part. Similarly, provisions relating to notice, agenda and minutes of meetings, and such other requirements as may be necessary, shall also be governed by the respective rules and procedures of the senate and the house of representatives.
(b) Except as provided in this subsection, this
part and part IV shall apply to each legislatively appointed body and shall
take precedence over any rules and procedures of the senate or house of
representatives that govern the same content of this part and part IV as they
relate to meetings and public hearings of legislatively appointed bodies. Any bill or resolution establishing a
legislatively appointed body may exempt that body from the requirements of this
part and part IV by inclusion in its final form of a specific finding or
declaration that articulates the rationale for the exemption.
(c) The senate and the house of representatives
shall each hold or jointly hold a public hearing or briefing on a biennial
basis to solicit professional and public opinions on how the rules and
procedures established by each chamber can better effectuate the intent of this
chapter. These hearings or briefings
shall be held in accordance with this part and part IV.
(d) For the purposes of this section, "legislatively appointed body" means a task force, working group, special committee, or select committee that has a membership consisting entirely of state legislators who were appointed by one or both houses of the legislature or one or both of the presiding officers of each house of the legislature."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct; Legislatively Appointed Bodies; Task Forces; Working Groups; Special Committees; Sunshine Law
Description:
Expands application of the State's sunshine law to legislatively appointed bodies, including task forces, working groups, special committees, and select committees. Requires the senate and the house of representatives to hold public hearings on a biennial basis to solicit professional and public feedback on how chamber rules can better effectuate the intent of the State's sunshine law.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
