Transparency within government proceedings has long been a benchmark of democratic governance, and those in Hawaii can anticipate advancements in this domain. The Office of Information Practices (OIP) has rolled out a series of updates to its Sunshine Law training materials, changes poised to better guide state and county boards in compliance with recently enacted laws.
According to the OIP, Act 169 (SB 1651 CD1) modifies section 92-7.5, HRS, adjusting deadlines for board packets. These packets must now be made available "at least three full business days before the relevant meeting," a timeline that requires notification to coincide with the packet's availability. The legislative history clarifies that a board packet must be accessible "at least six hours before the relevant office closing time for the day to count as a full business day."
Additional legislation, Act 53 (SB 869 HD1), integrates "community outreach boards" into the sphere of entities permitted to utilize specified interactions under part VII of chapter 92, HRS, as mentioned by the OIP. Although akin to neighborhood boards in their advisory role and community engagement function, they do not tie themselves to a single locality. Community outreach boards can now navigate special permitted interactions and partial Sunshine Law exceptions akin to their neighborhood counterparts, further broadening the scope of civic dialogue.
Moreover, Act 72 (SB 405 CD1), expands the directive allowing neighborhood boards, and now community outreach boards, to openly discuss, but not act upon, issues not listed in a meeting agenda but voiced in public testimony or a third-party government official's report. This augmentation serves to heighten the responsiveness of boards to emergent community concerns and governmental communications.
The OIP has reflected these legislative updates in a suite of revised materials, including written guides and slideshow presentations. These resources are designed not just to inform, but to reshape the conduct of open meetings. Among the updated content, boards can find the Open Meetings: Guide to 'The Sunshine Law' for state and county boards, Quick Review: Board Packets, and the Sunshine Law Quiz. These tools are meant to scaffold board members' understanding and adherence to the strengthened transparency measures. To access the full suite of training materials and the updated, unofficial version of the Sunshine Law statute, individuals and board members can visit the OIP website.
