STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1439

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   S.B. No. 306

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Labor & Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 306, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC INFORMATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require all state agencies to make available on the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's website in a digitally accessible and searchable format:

 

          (A)  The full text of the rules of the agency; and

 

          (B)  If adopting, amending, or repealing rules, the full text of the agency's proposed rules;

 

     (2)  Require the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to submit a report on the implementation of the above requirement and plans for cross-referencing and centralizing the full text of the Hawaii Administrative Rules on the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's website; and

 

     (3)  Appropriate funds for two positions in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor for implementation and maintenance of the rules centralization project.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and Disability and Communication Access Board.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will increase transparency in rulemaking for members of the public and stakeholders and optimize their ability to provide meaningful input in the process.

 

     Your Committee notes that H.B. No. 572, H.D. 1 (Regular Session of 2023), a similar measure, was previously passed by the House.  Your Committee believes that H.B. No. 572, H.D. 1, is preferable because it requires proposed rule changes to be reflected in Ramseyer format, making the changes more readily understandable for the reader; and contains specific requirements for the timing, content, and means of notice about the proposed rules.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the contents of H.B. No. 572, H.D. 1.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 306, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 306, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 


 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair