Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1046 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to subject all elected officials to the jurisdiction of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission (Commission) immediately upon election, rather than at the point of taking office.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Commission.

Your Committee finds that our State's Ethics Code help to ensure that public officials act in the public interest, without outside influence. Your Committee believes that coverage of the Ethics Code should begin as soon as an elected official has the ability to take official action.

Your Committee realizes that in most cases, an elected official can take no "official" action until actually assuming office. However, there may be instances in which an elected official takes or attempts to take "official" action immediately after election. To some extent, this depends on the definition of "official action."

While the Commission testified that it is not aware of any cases where this issue has arisen to date, your Committee agrees that our Ethics Code should apply as broadly as possible to ensure the integrity of our government.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1046 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.