Bill Text: HI HB1909 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 1909 (Prior Session Legislation)

HI State Legislature page for HB1909

Introduced

Bill Title: Boards and Commission Membership; Gender Equity

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-21 - Referred to JUD, referral sheet 3 [HB1909 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1909-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1909
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
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. The legislature finds that it is in the best interests of the State to pursue gender balance by providing equal employment opportunities for all segments of Hawaii's population through affirmative action and nondiscriminatory measures and by fostering a business climate in Hawaii that is conducive to the expansion of existing enterprises and the creation and attraction of new businesses and industry.

The purpose of this Act is to encourage transparent and fair selection procedures to achieve gender balance with qualified candidates for boards and commissions.

SECTION 2. Chapter 26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§26- Gender balance on boards and commissions. (a) Appointing authorities for boards and commissions of the State established by law, if not otherwise provided by law, shall attempt to achieve gender balance in the appointment of qualified candidates to those boards or commissions. If there are multiple appointing authorities for a board or commission, those authorities shall consult with each other to work towards achieving gender balance on the board or commission.

(b) When appointing or reappointing in accordance with subsection (a) and section 26-34, a transparent and fair selection procedure shall include a list of qualified candidates.

(c) If candidates of only one gender appear on a list of qualified candidates, the entity creating the list of qualified candidates, within ten days of submitting the list of qualified candidates to the appointing authority, shall submit a report to the legislature on the efforts made to include candidates of the other gender in filling the vacancy.

(d) The department of human resources development shall calculate the number of male and female appointments subject to subsection (a) and report this information to the legislature, on a quarterly basis, to provide reliable statistics that may be used to monitor the current situation and trends over time."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Boards and Commission Membership; Gender Equity

Description:

Requires the governor or appointing authority to attempt gender equity when appointing members of state boards and commission. Requires DHRD to report the number of men and women on boards and commissions.

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