HI HB77

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on establishing a centralized Office of Administrative Hearings as an independent agency in Hawaii's executive branch.

The office would separate adjudicatory functions from investigatory, prosecutorial, and policy-making functions of state agencies, based on the American Bar Association's February 3, 1997 model act.

The study shall identify existing departments and agencies conducting hearings, their organization, personnel requirements, jurisdictional scope, appeal processes, and legal conflicts affecting administrative hearings.

Excludes political subdivisions, legislative agencies, judicial agencies, the governor's office, and the lieutenant governor's office from the proposed centralized hearing system.

Legislative Reference Bureau must submit findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the 2018 regular session.