Hawaii Senate Bill SB32

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/18/23
• Refer: 1/20/23
• Report Pass: 2/2/23
• Refer: 2/2/23

Caption

Proposing An Amendment To The Hawaii State Constitution To Require The Reapportionment Commission To Establish A Reapportionment Plan To Draw District Lines For The Members Of The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs Board Of Trustees.

Impact

If passed, this bill will significantly affect the governance structure by requiring a systematic approach to drawing district lines that reflect population distributions. This is particularly important for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which is tasked with advocating for native Hawaiians. The requirement for districts to be formed in proportions that mirror the resident populations is expected to promote better representation and service delivery according to local demographics.

Summary

Senate Bill 32 (SB32) proposes an amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution that mandates the Reapportionment Commission to devise a plan for creating district lines for the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The aim is to allocate members based on the number of permanent residents across four basic island units using the method of equal proportions. This amendment is designed to ensure representation for each unit, thereby addressing concerns of equitable local governance.

Contention

Notably, some individuals may raise concerns regarding the implications of this amendment on existing representation dynamics and the processes involved in drawing district lines. Opponents might argue that this initiative could inadvertently lead to issues of political favoritism or inequalities in representation if not executed carefully. Furthermore, there is the practical concern surrounding the effectiveness of the Reapportionment Commission in fulfilling these responsibilities in a transparent and fair manner.