Bill Text: HI SB1546 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Sunshine Law; Public Meetings
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-28 - (S) Referred to JDL. [SB1546 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2011-SB1546-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1546 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to PUBLIC MEETINGS AND RECORDS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that openness in government is an important principle for Hawaii's people. The legislature also finds that the current requirement for the sunshine law, chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to be strictly construed against closed meetings fails to take into account the principle of government efficiency, which is similarly important to Hawaii's people.
The purpose of this Act is to ensure that due consideration is given to the principle of government efficiency when construing the sunshine law and to establish a reasonableness standard for the application of the sunshine law.
SECTION 2. Section 92-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§92-1 Declaration of policy and
intent. In a democracy, the people are vested with the ultimate
decision-making power. Governmental agencies exist to aid the people in the
formation and conduct of public policy. Opening up the governmental processes
to public scrutiny and participation is the only viable and reasonable method
of protecting the public's interest. Therefore, the legislature declares that
it is the policy of this State that the formation and conduct of public policy
- the discussions, deliberations, decisions, and action of governmental
agencies - shall be conducted [as openly as possible.] openly, efficiently,
and economically on behalf of the people. To implement this policy the
legislature declares that:
(1) It is the intent of this part to protect the people's right to know;
(2) The provisions requiring open meetings shall be
liberally construed[;] with due regard to the efficient and
economical use of government resources; and
(3) The provisions providing for exceptions to the
open meeting requirements shall be [strictly] reasonably
construed against closed meetings."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Sunshine Law; Public Meetings
Description:
Ensures that due consideration is given to government efficiency when construing the sunshine law; establishes a reasonableness standard for implementation of the 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.
