STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1015-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2120

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2120, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend certain parts of the conflicts of interests law of the State Ethics Code to include members of the Legislature and justices and judges of all state courts; and

(2) Clarify that the conflicts of interests law does not prohibit a legislator from introducing legislation, serving on a committee, making statements, or taking action in the exercise of their legislative functions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, Common Cause Hawaii, Pono Hawaii Initiative, and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that the conflicts of interests law applies differently to legislators. This measure specifically includes those state employees in the conflicts of interests law while maintaining the constitutional protections specifically afforded to legislators when engaged in their legislative functions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the inclusion of justices and judges in certain parts of the conflicts of interests law of the State Ethics Code; and

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

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 H.B. No. 2120, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2120, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair