STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1210-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 3024

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3024, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce by $80,000 the appropriation in Act 151, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, to the Hawaii State Ethics Commission to design and develop an electronic filing system.  This measure reappropriates an unspecified amount of the reduction to the Hawaii State Ethics Commission to establish a task force to review and make recommendations regarding the lobbyist laws under chapter 97, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The State Ethics Commission and League of Women Voters testified in support of this measure.

The Committee finds that establishing a task force within the State Ethics Commission for the specific purpose of examining the State's lobbying laws, and supporting that task force with re-directed funds, is a worthwhile endeavor. It is your Committee's understanding that the task force will be charged with conducting a broad analysis of the lobbyist laws under chapter 97 and other related state laws.  Your Committee finds that it is necessary to additionally oblige the task force to specifically examine the State's lobbying laws as they relate to all aspects of the executive branch.  This may include the procurement process, state department rulemaking, and interactions and transactions with the Governor's office, Lieutenant Governor's office, and state departments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including an additional purpose for the task force to review and examine the lobbying laws as they relate to the executive branch;

     (2)  Specifying an appropriation of $80,000 to fund the proposed task force; and

     (3)  Making this measure effective upon its approval.

     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. 3024, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3024, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair