STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1513
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 391
H.D. 2
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2019
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 391, H.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ETHICS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Establish restrictions on the participation in political activities of certain state employees and officers; and
(2) Impose
penalties for violations.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission and Common Cause Hawaii.
Your Committee finds that chapter
84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the state ethics code, promotes standards of
ethical conduct regarding conflicts of interest, fair treatment, confidential
information, and the solicitation and receipt of gifts for nominated,
appointed, and elected officers, employees, and candidates. Your Committee also finds that section 84-13,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, under the fair treatment law, prohibits the use of
state resources for campaign purposes, and section 11‑354, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, prohibits the collection of campaign donations in state
facilities. However, currently, state
law does not contain comprehensive restrictions on political activity for any
state officers or employees. Applying
restrictions on the participation in political activities of state government
officers and employees who are employed or hold office in state positions with
adjudicatory, regulatory, law enforcement, or investigative responsibilities as
a regular part of their duties, ensures that political activity by these
officers and employees does not compromise public confidence and trust in
government.
While this measure attempts to provide
comprehensive restrictions, your Committee notes that it is concerned primarily
with the solicitation of campaign contributions by certain state officers or
employees.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting the purpose section and legislative findings relating to the federal Hatch Act and the state code of ethics;
(2) Deleting language prohibiting covered employees from using their authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election;
(3) Deleting language prohibiting covered employees from taking an active part in political management or a political campaign; and
(4) 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 Labor, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 391, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 391, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts,
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________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
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