HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	176
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the state ethics commission to conduct a study to ascertain what measures may be enacted to address possible conflicts of interests of the members of the house of representatives.

     WHEREAS, the Legislature takes an oath to uphold the Constitution of the State of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the State Constitution speaks of the openness and transparency of the democratic process; and

     WHEREAS, high ethical standards among the members of the Legislature are essential to assure the trust, respect, and confidence of the people of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, in order to preserve the public's confidence in state government, the Legislature should conduct its business in a manner that preserves the integrity of the legislative process; and

     WHEREAS, the public's commitment to a part-time citizen Legislature requires that legislators be drawn from all parts of society and implies that legislators are expected and permitted to earn outside income; and

     WHEREAS, Article III, section 7 of the Hawaii State Constitution states that no member of the Legislature shall be held to answer before any other tribunal for any statement made or action taken in the exercise of the legislator's legislative function; and

     WHEREAS, members of the Legislature are not covered by the conflict of interests law set forth in Hawaii Revised Statutes, chapter 84, the State Ethics Code, which requires recusal when a conflict of interest arises; and

     WHEREAS, under both the Hawaii State Constitution and the Hawaii State Ethics Code, the regulation of the conflicts of interests of members of the Legislature is left to the Legislature itself; and

     WHEREAS, the lack of clear conflicts of interests standards that are applicable to members of the Legislature raises concerns among the members of the public and undermines the public's confidence in state government; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that this body requests the State Ethics Commission to conduct a study to ascertain what measures may be enacted to address possible conflicts of interests of the members of the house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study, and any proposed legislation, if any, be transmitted to the House of Representatives no later than twenty days prior to the commencing of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

State Ethics Commission; study