Chair Hee, Vice Chair Shimabukuro, and Committee Members:
The League of Women Voters cannot support this bill without amendments.
We believe the public is best served when all parties to Board proceedings have an opportunity to learn of and respond to testimony with which they disagree. We are concerned that two paragraphs of this bill could provide new ways for special interest groups to lobby Board members without the knowledge or participation of other affected parties.
We oppose proposed Section 92-2.5(f). Social media would unavoidably allow interested parties to lobby Board members concerning pending adjudicatory proceedings without the knowledge or participation of other affected parties.
We have no objection to Board members simply hearing presentations at a community meeting.
However, we cannot support Section 92-25(e) unless a proviso is added to explicitly prohibit Board members from discussing or accepting testimony concerning pending Board proceedings.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.
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