By ERIN MILLER Stephens Media ADVERTISING The House Judiciary Committee chairman deferred a bill proposing to exempt Hawaii’s four county councils from the state’s Sunshine Laws. Rep. Denny Coffman, D-Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau, who sits on the committee, said Chairman Gil
By ERIN MILLER
Stephens Media
The House Judiciary Committee chairman deferred a bill proposing to exempt Hawaii’s four county councils from the state’s Sunshine Laws.
Rep. Denny Coffman, D-Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau, who sits on the committee, said Chairman Gil Keith-Agaran did not set a date to hear the measure again.
“As far as I know, it’s not moving,” Coffman said.
He was unable to attend the entire hearing, because he also needed to attend a Finance Committee hearing.
Rep. Clift Tsuji, D-Hilo, said prior to Tuesday’s hearing he might vote for the bill, with reservations. After receiving many phone calls Tuesday, Tsuji said he had decided to vote against the bill, if the committee chairman tried to advance it.
“There was not a single testimony in support from the Big Island of Hawaii,” Tsuji said late Tuesday.
Testimony during the hearing was overwhelmingly negative, he added. Maui’s county council was the only one to send testimony. That council supported the measure, Tsuji said.
Media representatives submitted written testimony opposing the measure.
Retired Honolulu Star-Bulletin reporter and Keaau resident Rod Thompson said the bill had “no basis in rational thought.”
“If implemented, the proposal would allow any county council in the state to meet at any time, anywhere, with no notice, and would permit individual members of the various councils to communicate in any secret manner they pleased to undertake,” Thompson wrote. “This measure was not introduced to propose a serious, if flawed, adjustment of the Sunshine Law. Rather, this measure was introduced to scoff at, and demean, the entire legislative process.”
The Big Island Press Club also testified against the bill.
Several Hawaii County Council members contacted Monday said they also opposed the bill.
House Speaker Calvin Say introduced the bill in January. The bill was marked as being introduced by request; who requested the bill was still unclear Tuesday.
The Sunshine Law prohibits more than two board members from meeting or discussing pending legislation or other official board business, as well as requires at least six days public notice before the board may meet. Codified in Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 92, the law also addresses executive sessions.
Email Erin Miller at
emiller@westhawaiitoday.com
