2003-12-10 Board of Ethics Minutes REG pc

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RW: So the Sunshine Law allows boards to provide for reasonable administration of oral testimony by rule. I presume we're governed by that ruling. BLT: Ah huh. RW: Under that HRS, so we can actually put a time limit on a... BLT: As long as you have adopted some kind of rule that you have adopted pursuant to chapter 92. So what you need to do is you look at our Rules... RW: What Rules is that? BLT: And our Rules provide for putting a time limit, then you can put time limits. BLT: But generally, when you're doing time limits, it's usually kind of a reasonable standard in terms of number of people present. Maybe the amount of business that you have on your schedule and it's not a hard and fast rule. Usually, it's done when you have lots of people who want to testify. But, it can also be imposed when the length of testimony might impede your ability to get business done. So, I'll take a look. I don't... right off hand, I don't remember a specific rule. SC: Who makes that decision then? RW: The Chair, I would think huh? BLT: Well, first you have to have a rule that says you can limit. And then, based on the number of people, and the will of the committee and the Chair, you can impose that time limit. The other thing I should mention in terms of the testimony, is that just like when we talk about statements from the public, you can provide for statements from the public on agenda items at the beginning of your meeting. Or you can give people who have a particular item, an option that they can either testify at the beginning or they can testify when the item comes up. Our agenda normally has it at the beginning... statements, but we have accommodated people, and the Council does the same, but sometimes they want to actually present their testimony at the time that you're considering... like in our case, it's considering a specific petition. You're not required to give people an opportunity to testify twice however. Just once. SC.. Beginning or when on the agenda?