HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunication No. 2025-16 SB869THE SENATE ~~~869
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE,2025 ~Ii IN U S.D.1
STATE OF HAWAII •H.D.I
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARDS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
1 SECTION 1.The legislature finds that county neighborhood
2 and advisory boards provide local communities with opportunities
3 to participate in government.Likewise,boards created for the
4 purpose of community outreach,such as the Hawaii county
5 community development plan action committees,serve as an
6 intermediary between residents and government leaders to
7 understand local concerns,gather and disseminate information,
8 and create solutions in a collaborative environment.However,
9 because such boards are not specific to one neighborhood,it is
10 not clear that they are “neighborhood boards”and thus entitled
11 to use the special provisions set out for neighborhood boards in
12 part VII of chapter 92,Hawaii Revised Statutes.As community
13 outreach boards serve as a grassroots tool,ensuring open access
14 to board activities is essential to thriving communities
15 statewide.
16 Therefore,the purpose of this Act is to:
17 (1)Define “community outreach board”;
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1 (2)Include community outreach boards in existing
2 provisions of the sunshine law that relate to
3 neighborhood boards;and
4 (3)Authorize neighborhood board and community outreach
5 board members to attend meetings or presentations
6 related to official board business statewide.
7 SECTION 2.Chapter 92,Hawaii Revised Statutes,is amended
8 by adding a new section to part VII to be appropriately
9 designated and to read as follows:
10 ______Definition.As used in this part,“community
11 outreach board”means a board established to serve in a
12 community advisory capacity under a county commission or a
13 county department.”
14 SECTION 3.Chapter 92,Hawaii Revised Statutes,is amended
15 by amending the title of part VII to read as follows:
16 “[-E-]PART VII.[-1-]NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD;COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARD”
17 SECTION 4.Section 92-81,Hawaii Revised Statutes,is
18 amended as follows:
19 1.By amending its title and subsections (a)and (b)to
20 read:
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1 “[-f]~92~81[1-]Neighborhood board;community outreach
2 board;notice and agenda;public input;quorum.(a)[A~-y
3 contrary provicion in thio chaptcr notwithstanding,]
4 Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary,
5 the provisions of this part shall apply to neighborhood boards
6 and community outreach boards overseen by a neighborhood
7 commission of the city and county of Honolulu,and [such]other
8 neighborhood boards and community outreach boards as may be
9 created in other counties and overseen by a county-based
10 commission[--]or county—based department.
11 (b)The agenda required to be included in written public
12 notice of a [ncighborhood]board meeting may include an
13 opportunity for the board to receive public input on issues not
14 specifically noticed for consideration at the forthcoming
15 meeting.”
16 2.By amending subsection (d)to read:
17 “(d)A quorum for a meeting of a neighborhood board or
18 community outreach board shall be required for:
19 (1)Conducting official board business;
20 (2)Discussions [prior to]before and related to voting;
21 and
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1 (3)Voting required to validate an act of the board as
2 part of official board business.
3 A neighborhood board or community outreach board may receive
4 information or testimony on a matter of official board business
5 without a quorum;provided that the board shall not make a
6 decision on the issue.The board members,at the next meeting
7 of the [ncighborhood]board,shall report the matters presented
8 as information or testimony.”
9 SECTION 5.Section 92-82,Hawaii Revised Statutes,is
10 amended to read as follows:
11 “~92-82 Permitted interactions of neighborhood board and
12 community outreach board members.(a)Neighborhood board and
13 community outreach board members may attend meetings or
14 presentations [locatcd on Oahu]on matters relating to official
15 board business;provided that the meeting or presentation is
16 open to the public,does not charge a fee or require
17 registration,and is not specifically and exclusively organized
18 for or directed toward members of the board;[~-d]provided
19 further that no member [makcc]shall make a commitment to vote
20 on any of the issues discussed.
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1 (b)Neighborhood board and community outreach board
2 members who attend meetings or presentations allowed by
3 subsection (a)may ask questions relating to official board
4 business of persons other than fellow board members.”
5 SECTION 6.Section 92-83,Hawaii Revised Statutes,is
6 amended to read as follows:
7 “[+]~92-83[+]Neighborhood board meeting;community
8 outreach board meeting;unanticipated events;public interest.
9 An unanticipated event that occurs after public notice of a
10 neighborhood board or community outreach board meeting has been
11 issued,but before the scheduled meeting,may be the subject of
12 discussion at the scheduled meeting if timely action on the
13 matter is necessary for public health,welfare,and safety.At
14 a duly noticed meeting,a board may take action on an
15 unanticipated event in the public interest that is not on the
16 agenda in the same manner as if the board had held an emergency
17 meeting to take action on the issue,pursuant to section 92—8.”
18 SECTION 7.Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed
19 and stricken.New statutory material is underscored.
20 SECTION 8.This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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Report Title:
Neighborhood Boards;Community Outreach Boards;Sunshine Law;
Public Meetings;Permitted Interactions
Description:
Defines community outreach board to mean a board established to
serve in a community advisory capacity under a county commission
or a county department.Includes community outreach boards in
existing provisions of the Sunshine Law relating to neighborhood
boards.Authorizes neighborhood board and community outreach
board members to attend meetings or presentations related to
official board business statewide.(HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence oflegislative intent.
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