HB361 Summary

• Authorizes the governor to establish a statewide fair access commission composed of representatives from all islands to review and recommend improvements for government access by neighbor island and rural Oahu residents.

• Requires the legislature to ensure fair access to legislative proceedings, documents, and services statewide through audio and video broadcasts and technologies accessible to all islands.

• Requires the Joint Legislative Access Committee to review, evaluate, and make recommendations for improving neighbor island and rural Oahu resident access to legislative proceedings, information, and services.

• Assigns the judiciary responsibility for ensuring fair access to judicial branch information, services, and proceedings, while allowing the judiciary to determine which records are non-administrative and exempt from disclosure.

• Designates provision of information, services, and access to government proceedings to the public as a statewide function requiring cooperation between state and county governments.