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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
468 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO COUNTY ETHICS COMMISSIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Article XIV of the Hawaii State Constitution provides in pertinent part: "Ethics commissioners shall be selected in a manner which assures their independence and impartiality." Each member of the state ethics commission is appointed by the governor from a panel of ten persons nominated by the judicial council. The Hawaii supreme court appoints members of the judicial council, which does not presently include legislators. In contrast, members of each of the county ethics commissions are appointed by the mayor of the county and confirmed by the county council, both of which are subject to oversight by the particular county ethics commission.
The purpose of this Act is to provide standards for the selection of county ethics commissioners to ensure their impartiality and independence.
SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Part . county ethics commissions
§46‑ Process for selection of county ethics commissioners. Each county shall cause to be adopted a charter amendment for the selection process for the county ethics commission. The charter amendment for the selection process shall provide that the judicial council shall nominate at least three persons for each vacant seat on a county ethics commission, and that the mayor of the county shall appoint members from among the nominees selected by the judicial council. A nominee appointed by the mayor shall not be subject to confirmation by the county council.
§46- Character of county ethics commissioners. In nominating members for county ethics commissions, the judicial council shall take into account the integrity, impartiality, and independence of nominees as reflected by, among other things, the background and experiences of the person and the absence of potential conflicts of interest; provided that county ordinance may provide for additional criteria."
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
County Ethics Commissions; Selection of Members
Description:
Provides standards for the selection of county ethics commission members to ensure their impartiality and independence. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.