STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1583

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 755

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 755, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COUNTY ETHICS COMMISSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the independence and impartiality of county ethics commissioners by establishing standards and a process for their selection.

     The League of Women Voters of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee understands the importance of this bill's intent to distance the appointment of county ethics commissioners from the county mayors and the county councils whose actions and conduct the commissioners will oversee.  However, your Committee is concerned that designation of an "independent body," without further specifications or requirements as to how that body itself is selected, may result in delaying the favorable result this measure seeks.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, to promote further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 755, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 755, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair