Clarifies that members of county boards and commissions are subject to the respective county code of ethics, regardless of whether the board or commission member is appointed or elected.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that members of state boards and commissions are subject to the chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to standards of conduct. These include boards that perform only an advisory function. However, members of some county boards and commissions are not subject to the standards of conduct of their jurisdiction.

For example, in the city and county of Honolulu, elected members of neighborhood boards are not subject to the city's standards of conduct. The reasons provided by the corporation counsel include the fact that neighborhood board members are elected and not appointed to their boards, and these boards are limited to an advisory role.

The legislature believes that appointed and elected members of boards and commissions in both state and county levels of government should be subject to the standards of conduct in their jurisdiction.

The purpose of this Act is to clarify that members of county boards and commissions shall be subject to the standards of conduct in their jurisdiction.

SECTION 2. Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§ -   County standards of conduct. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a county standards of conduct shall apply to all elected or appointed officials of the appropriate county. For purposes of this section, all elected or appointed officials shall include members of boards and commissions, regardless of whether the member is elected or appointed to the board or commission, including all elected members of neighborhood boards."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.