HB2351

Report Title:

Cable TV, Access Board, Appointment

Description:

Provides that boards of cable television access are not to be selected by the DCCA.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2351
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO PUBLIC ACCESS CABLE TELEVISION.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the director of the department of commerce and consumer affairs currently appoints a majority of the members of the board of directors of nonprofit public access organizations that coordinate programming on designated public access cable television channels. The legislature supports the public policy that a private, independent, nonprofit organization should not be governed board members who are appointed by a state official. The purpose of this Act is to clarify the definition of access organization in chapter 440G by excluding an organization that has a member of its governing board appointed by the director of the department of commerce and consumer affairs.

SECTION 2. Section 440G-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "access organization" to read as follows:

""Access organization" means any nonprofit organization designated by the director to oversee the development, operation, supervision, management, production, or broadcasting of programs for any channels obtained under section 440G-8, and any officers, agents, and employees of such an organization with respect to matters within the course and scope of their employment by the access organization[.]; provided that no member of the access organization's board shall be appointed by the director."

SECTION 3. As of the effective date of this Act, that portion of any contract or agreement between the State and the access organizations that requires members of the organization's board to be appointed by the State or any official or agency thereof shall be void.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________