HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-07 Letter to Donovan M. Dela Cruz and Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran HB 1153, HD1, SD1 Relating to Remote Testimony in Legislative Hearings (2) (--
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County of Hawai`i
Office of the Mayor
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February 7, 2020
Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair
Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice Chair
Committee on Ways and Means
Dear Chair Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Keith-Agaran, and Committee Members:
RE: HB 1153, HD1, SD1 Relating to Remote Testimony in Legislative Hearings
Article I, Section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii provides that "All political power
of this State is inherent in the people and the responsibility for the exercise thereof rests with the
people." In that spirit, and over the course of its history, the Hawaii State Legislature has been
dedicated to assuring citizen participation in its activities and has often been at the forefront of
innovations that enhance that participation and make it more effective.
Technology has now reached the point where persons with disabilities, residents of rural Oahu,
and neighbor island residents, can be enabled to more fully participate in the legislative process
without experiencing inconvenient, expensive and/or time-consuming travel to the Capitol. Exactly
how that should be done, without jeopardizing the need for an expeditious legislative process, may
require further thought and deliberations, and that is exactly what HB 1153, HD1, SD1 would allow.
HB 1153, HD1, SD1 does not presuppose a method, but neither is it just another "study." Truly action
oriented, it mandates the outcome that remote testimony shall be allowed, and then leaves it to each
house to figure out the details. That is the kind of balance that this Legislature is known for and can
be proud of.
An earlier generation of Hawaii leaders recognized that all residents of the State deserve
equal educational opportunities, regardless of where they live. Now today's generation of leaders is
better assuring that all have equal access to their government. Thank you for taking this next step.
I hope you will approve HB 1153, HD1, SD1.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Harry Kim
MAYOR
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.