Clarifies that members of county boards and commissions are subject to their respective county code of ethics, whether the board or commission member is appointed or elected. (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. 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 that neighborhood board members are elected and not appointed to their boards, and these boards are limited to an advisory role.

The legislature finds 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 all county boards and commissions shall be subject to the standards of conduct in their jurisdiction.

SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§46-   County standards of conduct. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a county's standards of conduct shall apply to all elected and appointed officials of the county. For purposes of this section, elected and appointed officials shall include members of all boards and commissions, whether the members are elected or appointed to the boards or commissions, including all elected members of neighborhood boards."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon approval.