[HIham] HB2773 HD1 and HB2774 HD1 update: afternoon Apr 2, 2004

[Kevin C. Bogan]

We are still waiting for notification of the hearings.

Prepare your testimony as outlined below and be ready to submit it when we
receive the word that the hearings have been scheduled.

As of the morning of April 2, 2004, there is no indication of a hearing
scheduled for the two bills.  The bills must be scheduled by the close of
the legislative day, today, if they are to be heard by next Wednesday, April
7, 2004, the last day that they can be heard according to one source.  We
will announce the hearing when we receive notice of it.

If it is announced for Monday, we will have to take our testimony down with
us (25 copies) as there will not be a chance to submit the testimony 24
hours ahead of time.  If it is announced for Tuesday or Wednesday, then you
may submit testimony by dropping off twenty-five copies to the chair of the
Commerce Consumer Protection and Housing Committee (CPH), Senator Ron Menor
in room 219.

Good luck to us all,
Kevin, AH6QO
____________
Below are the guidelines for writing testimony.  The guidelines are taken
from the legislative website:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/info/guide/process04.asp?press1=info&press2=guide

and a sample testimony may be found there.

The Legislative Process
A Process Of The People
COMMITTEE TESTIMONY
Find out which committees your bills have been referred to by contacting
your district representative's or senator's office, the Clerk's Office of
either the House (Ph: 586-6400/Fax: 586-6401) or the Senate (Ph:
586-6720/Fax: 586-6719). Information may also be obtained from the Hawaii
State Legislature website, www.capitol.hawaii.gov.
To get on a committee mailing list to receive copies of agendas, public
hearing notices, and informational briefing notices, inform the appropriate
committee chair of your interest. You may also be placed on an e-mail list
through the Hawaii State Legislature website listed above.

You may have an opportunity to influence the decision of a committee chair
to hear a bill and to schedule the bill for a public hearing by contacting
the committee chair or committee clerk as soon as the bill has been referred
to the committee. At this time, you should provide the committee chair or
committee clerk with background information on the bill and answer any
questions that they may have. You may also want to send a letter to the
committee chair to raise your concerns about the bill or express your
support or opposition to the bill, either as an individual or on behalf of
your group or organization.

For the most part, committee chairs control their committee's agenda and
schedule the bills they feel should proceed through the legislative process.
However, you may want to consider communicating your views to the individual
members of each committee who may then voice your concerns to the committee
chair.

If your bill is scheduled for a public hearing, keep these guidelines in
mind:


  a.. When submitting testimony on a bill, the committee may require you to
present a minimum number of copies of written testimony to be inserted into
individual committee folders for distribution to committee members and
staff. Written testimony should be submitted to the appropriate office at
least 24 hours prior to the hearing.


  b.. If you are unable to prepare and submit written testimony in time for
a hearing, some committee chairs may allow the presentation of oral comments
at the public hearing. However, you should be prepared to submit written
testimony summarizing your oral comments after the public hearing.


  c.. Generally, each committee chair follows the order of the bills listed
on the agenda.


  d.. As a courtesy to departmental officials who must testify before a
number of committees each day, most committee chairs allow departmental
representatives to present their testimony before the general public
presents its testimony.


  e.. Prepare your oral testimony in advance and be brief unless asked to
elaborate. Do not read your written testimony. If you are asked to summarize
your oral testimony, comply with the committee chair's request. There may be
a large number of bills scheduled and many testifiers.


  f.. Be specific and to the point regarding the bill you are testifying on.


  g.. Be prepared to answer questions from committee members on your
testimony or your position on the bill. If you don't know the answer to the
question, just say so.
WRITTEN TESTIMONY OUTLINE
    a.. CHAIR OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE COMMITTEE
    NAME OF THE HOUSE OR SENATE COMMITTEE

    b.. Your name
    The group or organization that you represent (if any)
    A contact number or address

    c.. Day and Date of Hearing

    d.. Your position on the measure and the bill or resolution number, and
draft number (if any)

    e.. Introduction:
      1.. Introduce who you are and/or the group or organization that you
represent;
      2.. State the measure you are testifying on; and
      3.. State your position on the measure (e.g., "I am testifying in
favor of/in support of . . . ." or "I am testifying against/in opposition
to ..")

    f.. Content:
    State or list the reasons for taking your position, starting with the
most important or compelling reasons. Include any facts, figures,
statements, and experiences to support your position.

    g.. Closing:
      1.. Include any closing remarks; and
      2.. Reiterate your position on the measure (especially if you did not
state your position previously within the testimony).