Office of Information Practices

S Memo 11-8
January 11, 2011
Internal Working Group Status as Board

Requester asked whether an internal working group formed from employees of the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) and the Honolulu Emergency Services Department (HESD) (the Working Group) by the Fire Chief and HESD Director to identify issues, challenges and benefits of a potential merger of the two departments is a “board” subject to the Sunshine Law. OIP found that the Working Group is not a “board” under the Sunshine Law because it was not created by constitution, statute, rule, or executive order.

Although the Mayor directed the Fire Chief and HESD Director to explore a possible merger and make a recommendation, he did not issue an executive order nor did he require that the exploration be done by creation of a working group.