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Section 13-20. Records and Meetings Open to The Public.
<br />(a) All books, minutes and records of every agency of the county shall be open to the
<br />inspection of any person at any time during business hours, except as otherwise provided
<br />by law.: Certified copies or extracts from such books and records shall be given by the
<br />officer who has custody of same to any person requesting such copies and extracts and
<br />paying or tendering a reasonable fee to be fixed by the council.
<br />(b) All meetings of the council, boards and commissions shall be held in the council meeting
<br />room or other public places and no such bodies shall take any official action except at a
<br />meeting open to the public. Where personal matters affecting the privacy of an
<br />individual are to be considered, the council, board or commission may, at the request of
<br />the individual involved, consider such matters in closed session; however, any official
<br />action resulting therefrom shall be acted upon in an open meeting. Boards ano
<br />commissions that are empowered to give examinations to determine the capabilities of
<br />individuals shall be excepted from the provisions of flus section when technical
<br />examinations and questionnaires are being drafted by such bodies.
<br />The term "official action" as used in this section means a collective decision made by
<br />a majority of the members of the council, board or commission, or an actual vote by a
<br />majority of the members of the council, board or commission, when sitting as a body or
<br />an entity, upon any matter before the council, board or commission.
<br />(c) The council, board or commission shall provide notice of any regular, special,
<br />rescheduled or emergency meeting according to the provisions of the Hawaii Revised
<br />Statutes.
<br />(d) Business conducted by the council, board or commission during a meeting which does
<br />not conform to the provisions of this section shall be null and void.
<br />(e) News gatherer's sources, privileged. No legislative or administrative body, or any other
<br />county body having the power to issue subpoenas shall adjudge in contempt any
<br />publisher, editor, or reporter, who is or was connected with or employed by a newspaper,
<br />press association, wire service, or a radio or television station, for refusing to disclose, in
<br />any county action, hearing, investigation, inquest, or inquiry, the source of any
<br />information procured while connected or employed by the newspaper, press association,
<br />wire service, or station for publication in a newspaper or for news or news commentary
<br />purposes on radio or television.
<br />(1974, Ord. No. 58, sec. 1; 1990, Prop. 10, sec. 5; 2010, Prop. 7, secs. 60 and 61, Prop. 18, sec. 1, and
<br />Prop. 19, sec. 6; 2012, Ord. No. 11-85, sec. 2.)
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