I have always been a leading advocate for transformation of the State Legislature and co-chaired efforts to maximize citizen input to the process and make government more accessible to the general public. Our efforts have resulted in the development of ACCESS: Legislative Information Service, which enables Hawaii’s citizens to instantly review text of bills, committee reports, hearing notices and other legislative information. I also helped spearhead a number of legislative access projects, which resulted in an overhaul of the legislative process, utilization of telecommunications technology such as facsimile, and computer generated audio response systems, as well as interactive video teleconferences and electronic town meetings via cable television. Additionally, I have been involved in rule changes in the State House and Senate to ensure public decision making. Most recently, I helped develop the Hawaii State Legislature’s website, Rainbow Connection, and establish electronic mail accounts for legislators and their staff.

Legislative Rule Changes - The rules of House and Senate govern the manner in which the people’s business is conducted. I have been involved in the complete re-write of the rules in the past ten years. These changes included public voting on measures in committee, processes to ensure a balance of power between comittee chairs and committee members, including the power of a majority of committee members to overrule decisions by the chair. The legislative calendar has also been changed to facilitate public participation.

ACCESS: Legislative Information Service. In 1988, I helped develop ACCESS, the State’s first, on-line, electronic information service, which allows the public, through the use of a computer and modem, to receive copies of bills, committee hearings and reports. With ACCESS , the Legislature accomplished its goals, which were to: In 1988, I helped develop ACCESS, the State’s first, on-line, electronic information service, which allows the public, through the use of a computer and modem, to receive copies of bills, committee hearings and reports. With ACCESS , the Legislature accomplished its goals, which were to:

• allow citizens to access legislative information and learn about the legislative process;
• change the role of libraries as a resource center of information including on-line access to data;
• prepare adults and children for the information age;
• encourage the development of communication skills through electronic conferencing and messaging;
• overcome geographical obstacles of the state;
• provide timely access to legislative documents and information;
• provide access to legislative information to those without the technological means; and;
• promote the exchange of ideas and opinions on issues.

Legislative Access Projects - I also initiated a number of projects, which provides our citizens with an easier and quicker way to participate in the legislative process. These projects are:

+ ACCESS Net: Access Net is an interactive electronic networking service that allows the public to send inquiries and suggestions to legislators and other users. It also allows users to participate in on-line discussions on a variety of issues.

+ AudioACCESS: AudioACCESS is an audio bill status system which allows the public to use a touchtone telephone to connect to a digitized voice which relays current status or disposition of measures, hearing information, and committee actions.

+ Faxing Services: Today, the Legislature faxes hearing notices to all interested parties and accepts faxed testimony for committee hearings. All state public libraries provide free faxing services to the Legislature.

+ Public Terminals: Terminals for public use are provided statewide at all public libraries, Judiciary libraries, University of Hawaii statewide system, neighbor island state office buildings, and the State Capitol Public Access Room.

+ Toll-Free Telephone Numbers: Statewide toll-free telephone numbers are provided for ACCESS, AudioACCESS, and the faxing of testimony.

+ Rainbow Connection: As co-chair of the Legislative Access Committee’s Internet Subcommittee, my House counterpart and I were responsible for developing Rainbow Connection, the Hawaii State Legislature’s entry on the World Wide Web. The website currently provides information on the legislative process, committee assignments and schedules, and broadcast times for legislative activities. It also displays photographs and gives short biographies of most legislators, along with a general map of the area they represent. I am now working to increase the legislature’s Internet services by providing committee hearing notices, committee reports, and bills. As part of the development of this site, I helped establish e-mail addresses for legislators and their staff.