THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1277

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to public agency meetings.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the requirement of boards to keep written minutes of all meetings should be updated to reflect technological advancements.  It is currently difficult for boards to find and retain staff with the stenographic experience necessary to keep written minutes as fewer individuals have those qualifications and those who do obtain such qualifications quickly seek out much higher paying positions in the court system.  It is also now possible to keep minutes through analog and digital recording means, and to make minutes publicly available in those forms.  The legislature finds that updating this requirement will only serve to enhance the public's ability to access the minutes of board meetings.

     The purpose of this Act is to allow board minutes to be kept by written or recorded means.

     SECTION 2.  Section 92-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The board shall keep [written] minutes of all meetings[.]; provided that the minutes may be written or recorded by analog or digital means.  Unless otherwise required by law, neither a full transcript nor a recording of the meeting is required, but the [written] minutes shall give a true reflection of the matters discussed at the meeting and the views of the participants.  The minutes shall include, but need not be limited to:

     (1)  The date, time and place of the meeting;

     (2)  The members of the board recorded as either present or absent;

     (3)  The substance of all matters proposed, discussed, or decided; and a record, by individual member, of any votes taken; and

     (4)  Any other information that any member of the board requests be included or reflected in the minutes."

     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  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.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.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Public Agency Meetings; Minutes

 

Description:

Allows the minutes at public agency meetings to be kept by written or recorded means.

 

 

 

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