HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GREDC 006 2017/10/03 (2016-2018) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DATE: October 3, 2017 Re: Comm. 453/Res. No. 295-17
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawai`i
TIME: 9:05 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development, to which was referred
Resolution No. 295-17 reports as follows:
Resolution No. 295-17, transmitted by Council Member Valerie T. Poindexter, dated October 3,
2017, requests that the State Legislature be subject to the Sunshine Law.
Committee Member Poindexter gave reference to an Oklahoma court decision that mandated the
State of Oklahoma to be open and transparent. The recent Special Legislative Session was a clear
statement by itself, with no advance warning or any public hearings, and decisions were
pre-made. As a constituent herself, she believes that she has a right to know what discussions and
decisions are being made by our State representatives as these decisions affect everyone.
Committee Member Lee Loy noticed that Hawai`i Island Senate members were not included in
the resolution for notification of the resolution. She requested that the resolution be amended to
include Senate members. Committee Member Poindexter assured that by the time the resolution
is in front of the Council, the amendment will be made.
Committee Member Aaron Chung made statements that he would support as a gesture of
solidarity with his colleagues but he had some concerns. In the past, he has supported relaxation
of the Sunshine Law because there were times the law hindered the work that it tried to
accomplish on behalf of constituents. Mr. Chung also was not interested in upsetting or
provoking the State Legislature with this type of legislation. There are over 3,000 pieces of
legislation that are submitted to the State body and it would be impossible to address it all within
the Sunshine Law. Even though Mr. Chung had some concerns, he agreed and supported
Resolution No. 295-17.
Committee Members as a whole were in support of Resolution No. 295-17.
GREDC Report No. 6
GREDC-6 Page 2 October 3, 2017
Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development is in accord with the
purpose and intent of Resolution No. 295-17, and recommends its adoption.
1w
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
EOFF x RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
KANUHA X
LEE LOY X
O'HARA X
POINDEXTER x DRU MAMO KANUHA, CHAIR
RICHARDS X GREDC REPORT NO.: 6
RUGGLES X ADOPTED: OCT 1 8 2017