Section 14-21.1-7 - MeetingsThe board may meet and exercise its powers in any part of the State. The following governs meetings before the board, but shall not apply to adjudicatory functions exercised by the board and governed by the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
(1) All meetings of the board, except executive meetings governed by section 92-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and meetings governed by section 92-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be open to the public.(2) The board may hold an executive meeting closed to the public upon an affirmative vote, taken at an open meeting, of a majority of the members present. A meeting closed to the public shall be limited to matters exempted by section 92-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.(3) The rules governing meetings shall not apply to any chance meeting, as defined by section 92-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, at which matters relating to official business are not discussed. No chance meeting or electronic communication shall be used to circumvent the spirit or requirements of the meeting provisions to make a decision or to deliberate toward a decision upon a matter over which the board has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power.(4) For the purpose of minimizing travel and per diem expenses, the board may use more cost efficient means such as teleconferencing which does not require all parties to convene at a single site, whenever practicable, to conduct its proceedings.(5) Special meetings of the board for the transaction of its business may be held at any time and place as scheduled by the board.(6) If the board finds that an imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare requires a meeting in less time than is provided for in section 14-21.1-7(7), the board may hold an emergency meeting provided: (A) The board states in writing the reasons for its findings;(B) A majority of board members agree that an emergency exists;(C) An emergency agenda and the findings are filed with the office of the lieutenant governor and in the board's office; and(D) Persons requesting notification pursuant to section 14-21.1-7(7) are contacted by mail or telephone as soon as practicable.(7) Requirements for notice for meetings are as follows:(A) The board shall give written public notice of any regular, special, or rescheduled meeting. The notice shall include an agenda which lists all of the items to be considered at the forthcoming meeting, the date, time and place of the meeting.(B) The board shall file the notice in the office of the lieutenant governor and in the board's office for public inspection at least six days before the meeting. The notice shall also be posted at the site of the meeting whenever feasible. The board shall not add items to the agenda, once filed, without a majority recorded vote of all members to which the board is entitled; provided that no item shall be added to the agenda in this manner if it is of reasonably major importance and action thereon by the board will affect a significant number of persons.(C) The board shall maintain a list of names and addresses of persons who request notification of meetings and shall mail a copy of the notice to those persons at their last recorded address no later than the time the agenda is filed under section 14-21.1-7(B).[Eff OCT 24 2003] (Auth: HRS § 91-2) (Imp: HRS §§ 92-3, 92-3.1, 92-3.5, 92-4, 92-5, 92-7, 92-8)