STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2078

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 144

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 144, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOBBYISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend Hawaii's lobbyists law by:

(1) Removing the restriction on access to transcripts for contested case hearings before the State Ethics Commission;

(2) Changing the requisite level of intent for violations of the lobbyist law from wilfully to negligently; and

(3) Allowing the State Ethics Commission to assess an administrative fine pursuant to a settlement agreement.

The Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission and an individual testified in support of this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 144, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair