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

Thursday, February 12, 2009, 9:30 A.M. Conference Room 016

Testifier: JoAnn Maruoka, LWV of Hawaii Legislative Team Member

Click here to view SB1105

Chair Taniguchi, Vice Chair Takamine, and committee members, The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supports SB 1105. Not only does this bill help to keep reports to the legislature of studies and audits conducted by executive departments and agencies from dropping into a black hole, it also requires public hearings or information briefings, important for increasing openness in government. Waivers for such public hearings or briefings are appropriately at the level of the senate president or house speaker, and reasons for so granting are to be posted on the legislature’s website and publicly noticed at the capitol. Making information public plays a key role in government transparency. The requirements for public hearing/briefings and posting of any waiver rationale are supportive of such transparency, and may also help add to public confidence and trust in representative government. We urge you to pass SB 1105. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.