THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

233

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT OPEN MEETINGS.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 92-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§92-3  Open meetings.  Every meeting of all boards shall be open to the public and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting unless otherwise provided in the constitution or as closed pursuant to sections 92-4 and 92-5; provided that the removal of any person or persons who wilfully disrupts a meeting to prevent and compromise the conduct of the meeting shall not be prohibited.  The boards shall afford all interested persons an opportunity to submit data, views, or arguments, in writing, on any agenda item.  The boards shall also afford all interested persons an opportunity to present oral testimony on any agenda item[;] at the beginning of the board's agenda or meeting; provided that, except for the legislative body of each county, the oral testimonies of interested persons shall not be limited to the beginning of a board's agenda or meeting.  The boards may provide for reasonable administration of oral testimony by rule."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

By Request

 

 

Report Title:

Maui County Council Package; Open Meetings; Sunshine Law; Testimony

 

Description:

Specifies that boards subject to the open meetings law shall allow oral testimony on any agenda item at the beginning of the board's agenda or meeting, provided that oral testimony shall not be limited to the beginning of a board's agenda.  Specifies an exception for the legislative body of each county.

 

 

 

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