STAND. COM. REP. NO. 852

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 144

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 144, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOBBYISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify and strengthen the State's lobbyist law.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Repeals the restriction on access to transcripts from public contested hearings;

(2) Changes the requisite level of intent to violate the lobbyist law from wilfully to negligently; and

(3) Authorizes the state ethics commission to assess an administrative fine pursuant to a settlement agreement.

Your Committee believes that a lower level of proof with respect to the actor's intent to violate the lobbyist law is appropriate, given that the penalty involves only a civil administrative fine.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair