HB 1734 Summary

• Requires each chamber of the Hawaii legislature to establish rules enabling residents to present oral testimony at legislative committee hearings through audiovisual videoconferencing technology

• Addresses the geographic barrier for approximately 400,000 neighbor island residents who face costs exceeding $300 per day and lost work time to attend in-person hearings on Oahu

• Appropriates general revenues for fiscal year 2018-2019 to the Department of Accounting and General Services to install audiovisual videoconferencing technology in all legislative conference rooms

• Takes effect on July 1, 2018