STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2844

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 468

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 468, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to enact standards for the selection of county ethics commissioners to ensure their impartiality and independence.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters, Common Cause Hawaii, and two individuals.  Comments were received from the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu.

     Your Committee finds that county ethics commissions should be independent and nonpartisan.  The members must have the will and the courage to fulfill their duties with impartiality and due diligence.  The selection process is critical to ensuring their independence and impartiality.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 468, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 468, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair