LIHU‘E — With the state of the economy and high cost of airfare and ground transportation, the likelihood that the average Kauaian will journey to Honolulu to testify or otherwise participate in the work of the 2010 state Legislature is
LIHU‘E — With the state of the economy and high cost of airfare and ground transportation, the likelihood that the average Kauaian will journey to Honolulu to testify or otherwise participate in the work of the 2010 state Legislature is slim.
Still, there are ways to track bills, stay informed, even submit written testimony, from the comfort of one’s home or office.
The state Legislative Reference Bureau’s Public Access Room, run by former Kaua‘i resident Suzanne Marinelli, has gone to great lengths to ensure at least some voice for Neighbor Island residents interested in the legislative process.
The room’s 2010 session calendar has been published, is available online, and includes important deadlines and explanations. It is available at http://hawaii.gov/lrb/par/legfyi.html.
The official public version of the calendar is on the legislative information page of the Legislature’s Web site, www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/time/time.asp or www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/info.asp.
The Legislature Web site home page is www.capitol.hawaii.gov, and provides real-time information on the status of all introduced bills and resolutions.
Those without Internet access can still participate, and Marinelli and staff are ready to assist with requests for information and questions. Call them toll-free at 274-3141, then 7-0478# after the recorded greeting.
The mailing address is Public Access Room (PAR), A Division of the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), State Capitol, Room 401, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813.
The telecommunications relay for the hearing impaired can also be accessed toll-free, at 274-3141 then 7-0749# after the recorded greeting, and the same is true of the fax, 7-0793#.
The e-mail address is par@capitol.hawaii.gov, and the Web site is http://hawaii.gov/lrb/par.
The calendar indicates how much work is done in advance of the session’s formal opening Jan. 20, as that was the deadline for all non-administrative bill packages.
There are 43 packages of legislation introduced this year, alphabetically from Asset to Women, including Kaua‘i and the Council of Mayors packages.
