In committee
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Hawaii House
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Lead sponsor
RELATING TO SUNSHINE LAW BOARDS.
Expands board and public participation by giving boards the option, in conjunction with in-person meetings, to use interactive conference technology to remotely conduct public meetings under the Sunshine Law, even when no emergency has been declared by government authorities. Authorizes boards to exclude the public from nonpublic locations, such as homes, where board members are physically present when remote board meetings are held by interactive conference technology, with members of the public given the option to participate either remotely or at an in-person public location. Establishes requirements for the conduct of remote meetings. Requires remote meetings held by interactive conference technology to recess for a maximum prescribed period when audiovisual communication cannot be maintained by the board (not due to a member of the public's inability to maintain such communication) and allows the meeting to be reconvened even if only audio communication can be reestablished. Establishes a new notice requirement to provide the board's contact information for the submission of written testimony by electronic or postal mail, which also applies to remote meeting agendas. Amends existing option to hold in-person meetings at multiple public meeting sites connected by interactive conference technology to require termination of meeting only if audio communication is lost and cannot be reestablished within an hour and the board had not provided reasonable notice of how the meeting would be continued. Allows for additional courtesy sites open to the public for both remote and in-person meetings held by interactive conference technology. Allows for contact tracing and social distancing in a pandemic.
