RELATING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARDS.

HB686

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

686

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Community outreach boards
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION
1
.
�
The legislature finds that county
neighborhood and advisory boards provide local communities with opportunities
to participate in government.
�
Likewise,
community outreach boards serve as an intermediary between residents and
government leaders to understand local concerns, gather and disseminate
information, and create solutions in a collaborative environment.
�
As community outreach boards serve as a
grassroots tool, ensuring open access to board activities is essential to
thriving communities statewide.

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Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
�
Define
"community outreach board";

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(2)
�
Include
community outreach boards in existing provisions of the sunshine law that
relate to neighborhood boards; and

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(3)
�
Authorize
neighborhood board and community outreach board members to organize meetings or
presentations related to official board business statewide.

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SECTION
2
.
�
Chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part VII to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�92-
�
Definitions.
�
As used in this part, "community outreach board" means a board
established to serve in a community advisory capacity under a county commission
or a county department.
"

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SECTION
3
.
�
Chapter 92,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
by amending the
title of part VII
to
read as follows:

"
[
[
]
PART
VII.
[
]
]
�
NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD
; COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARD
"

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SECTION
4
.
�
Section 92-81, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended as follows:

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1.
�

By amending its title and subsections (a) and (b) to read:

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"[
[
]�92-81[
]
]

�
Neighborhood board;
community outreach
board;
notice and agenda; public input; quorum.
�
(a)
�
[
Any
contrary provision in this chapter notwithstanding,
]
Notwithstanding any
provision in this chapter to the contrary,
the provisions of this part
shall apply to neighborhood boards
and community outreach boards

overseen by a neighborhood commission of the city and county of Honolulu, and [
such
]
other neighborhood boards
and community outreach boards
as may be
created in other counties and overseen by a county-based commission[
.
]
or
county-based department.

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(b)
�
The agenda required to be included in written
public notice of a [
neighborhood
] board meeting may include an
opportunity for the board to receive public input on issues not specifically
noticed for consideration at the forthcoming meeting."

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2.
�
By amending subsection (d) to read:

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"(d)
�
A quorum for a meeting of a neighborhood
board
or community outreach board
shall be required for:

����
(1)
�
Conducting official board business;

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(2)
�
Discussions prior to and related to voting;
and

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(3)
�
Voting required to validate an act of the
board as part of official board business.

A neighborhood board
or community
outreach board
may receive information or testimony on a matter of official
board business without a quorum; provided that the board shall not make a
decision on the issue.
�
The board
members, at the next meeting of the [
neighborhood
] board, shall report
the matters presented as information or testimony."

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SECTION
5
.
�
Section 92-82, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�92-82
�
Permitted
interactions of neighborhood board
and community outreach board
members.
�
(a)
�
Neighborhood
board
and community outreach board
members may attend
or organize

meetings or presentations [
located on Oahu
] on matters relating to
official board business; provided that the meeting or presentation is open to
the public, does not charge a fee or require registration, and is not
specifically and exclusively organized for or directed toward members of the
board; and provided further that no member makes a commitment to vote on any of
the issues discussed.

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(b)
�
Neighborhood board
and community outreach
board
members who attend meetings or presentations allowed by subsection
(a) may ask questions relating to official board business of persons other than
fellow board members."

����
SECTION
6
.
�
Section 92-83, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"[
[
]
�92-83[
]
]
�

Neighborhood board meeting;
community outreach board meeting;
unanticipated
events; public interest.
�

An unanticipated event that occurs after public notice of a neighborhood
board
or community outreach board
meeting has been issued, but before
the scheduled meeting, may be the subject of discussion at the scheduled
meeting if timely action on the matter is necessary for public health, welfare,
and safety.
�
At a duly noticed meeting, a
board may take action on an unanticipated event in the public interest that is
not on the agenda in the same manner as if the board had held an emergency
meeting to take action on the issue, pursuant to section 92-8."

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SECTION 7.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 8.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Neighborhood
Boards; Community Outreach Boards; Sunshine Law; Public Meetings; Permitted Interactions

Description:

Defines
community outreach board to mean a board established to serve in a community
advisory capacity under a county commission or a county department.
�
Includes community outreach boards in
existing provisions of the Sunshine Law relating to neighborhood boards.
�
Authorizes neighborhood board and community
outreach board members to organize meetings or presentations related to
official board business statewide.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.