STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1355

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 166

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 166 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING STATE DEPARTMENTS AND ATTACHED AGENCIES TO TRAIN THEIR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the heads of the departments and agencies that administratively control or supervise a board or commission to provide training for all members of their boards and commissions subject to 84-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

Your Committee finds that reports from the Office of the Auditor have indicated that various state board members and staff are unfamiliar with the applicable laws and statutes that are relevant to the work of the board or commission on which they sit. Your Committee also finds that although some departments train the members of their boards and commissions, this is not a consistent practice throughout the State. This measure would help ensure that board and commission members have appropriate training to effectively fulfill their responsibilities. Your Committee heard testimony regarding concerns that the requirement for newly appointed board members to complete training before receiving voting rights will limit the board or commission's ability to meet quorum requirements and take action on pending board matters that require a vote.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by removing the clause that would have requested that board and commission members be required to complete training before receiving voting rights.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 166, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 166, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair