THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            11
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING A STUDY TO ASCERTAIN WHAT LAWS, RULES, OR OTHER
    MEASURES MAY BE PUT IN PLACE TO ADDRESS POSSIBLE CONFLICTS
    OF INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.



 1        WHEREAS, high ethical standards among the members of the
 2   Legislature are essential to assure the trust, respect, and
 3   confidence of the people of Hawaii; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, in order to preserve the public's confidence in
 6   state government, the Legislature should conduct its business
 7   in a manner that preserves the integrity of the legislative
 8   process; and
 9   
10        WHEREAS, the public's commitment to a part-time citizen
11   Legislature requires that legislators be drawn from all parts
12   of society and implies that legislators are expected and
13   permitted to earn outside income; and
14   
15        WHEREAS, article III, section 7 of the Hawaii State
16   Constitution states that no member of the Legislature shall be
17   held to answer before any other tribunal for any statement made
18   or action taken in the exercise of the legislator's legislative
19   function; and
20   
21        WHEREAS, members of the Legislature are not covered by the
22   conflict of interests law set forth in the State Ethics Code,
23   chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which requires recusal
24   when a conflict of interest arises; and
25   
26        WHEREAS, under both the Hawaii State Constitution and the
27   Hawaii State Ethics Code, the regulation of the conflicts of
28   interests of members of the legislature is left to the
29   Legislature itself; and
30   
31        WHEREAS, the lack of clear conflict of interests standards
32   that are applicable to members of the Legislature raises
33   concern among the members of the public and undermines the
34   public's confidence in state government; now, therefore,
35   

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            11
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
 2   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the House of
 3   Representatives concurring, that the respective houses of the
 4   Legislature are requested to undertake a study to ascertain
 5   what laws, rules, or other measures the Legislature may adopt
 6   to address the conflicts of interests of its members.
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11                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________