STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1288-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2609

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2609, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow for the redaction of certain information on the financial disclosure statements deemed to be public records, of non-paid volunteer members of state boards and commissions listed in section 84-17(d)(8), Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and an individual supported this measure. The Hawaii State Ethics Commission, Common Cause Hawaii, League of Women Voters, and Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter provided comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on this measure.

Your Committee recognizes that seats on state boards, commissions, and agencies in the State remain vacant or held by holdover members due to difficulty filling these seats and recruiting members. Your Committee notes that this measure will still enable the public access to information regarding whether individuals serving on specific state boards or commissions hold a financial interest in a particular entity, but not the amount of the financial interest. Your Committee recognizes the need to arrive at a balance where the public interest is served in ensuring the seats of these boards and commissions are filled as an essential function of government, while also providing transparency in government processes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2609, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2609, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair