Senate Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations (JGO) - chair: Taniguchi, vice chair: Takamine

Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 9:00 A.M. Conference Room 016

Testifier: JoAnn Maruoka, LWV of Hawaii Legislative Team Member

Click here to view SB906

Chair Taniguchi, Vice Chair Takamine, and members, The League of Women Voters supports the intent of SB 906 to expand the permitted method of facilitating meetings of boards and commissions subject to the “Sunshine Law” to available “interactive conference technology,” meaning any form of audio and visual conference technology (viz., teleconferencing, videoconferencing, and voice over Internet protocol). We recognize the significant challenges of cost and distance in conducting business on behalf of our island State. It is sound to expand the options for meetings that also allows for future technology insertion. However, we want to stress the importance of ensuring that such meetings be audible to the public at the location specified in the noticed meeting; and of course, comply with all other requirements of open meetings laws. Thank you for this opportunity to testify on SB 906.