Bill Text: HI SB613 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Legislative Access Through Remote Testimony.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB613 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB613-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	613
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to Legislative Access Through Remote Testimony.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that temporary arrangements implemented due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have led to vastly expended public access to the legislative process through the use of technology that allows for remote participation in legislative hearings.  In the past, the State's unique geography posed particular challenges for residents of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui, which made participation in the state legislative process time-consuming and costly.  In addition, demands on the time of residents of all islands, such as work and family obligations, made travel to the state capitol to testify at a legislative proceeding difficult.  The lack of remote access also disenfranchised persons with disabilities who live on all islands.

     The legislature concludes that the emergence of COVID-19 and temporary rules that enabled the public to participate via live, real-time remote testimony should be made permanent.  The legislature recognizes that Alaska, Nebraska, Nevada, and Washington have successful remote testimony programs, and Hawaii can join these states by establishing permanent rules.

     The purpose of this Act is to require each house of the legislature to establish, through its rules, the procedures and necessary information infrastructure to allow the public to present remote testimony at legislative committee hearings.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§21-    Remote testimony; rules.  (a)  Each house of the legislature shall establish, by rule:

     (1)  Procedures that enable the legislature to use remote testimony at legislative committee hearings;

     (2)  Procedures that enable the public to present oral testimony at legislative committee hearings through remote testimony; and

     (3)  Procedures to accommodate persons with disabilities through remote testimony.

     (b)  As used in this section, "remote testimony" means the use of video conferencing or other technology that facilitates interaction between the public and members of the legislature and enables the public to submit oral testimony remotely via the Internet or other telecommunications technology during legislative hearings and proceedings."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

State Legislature; Legislative Access; Remote Legislative Committee Hearings; Remote Testimony; Deaf and Blind Task Force

 

Description:

Requires each house of the Legislature to establish by its rules, procedures that enable the Legislature to use remote testimony at legislative committee hearings, enable the public to present oral testimony at legislative committee hearings through remote testimony, and accommodate persons with disabilities though remote testimony.  Defines "remote testimony".

 

 

 

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