STAND. COM. REP. NO. 360-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2124

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2124 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit certain state officials and employees from representing certain private interests before the State for twelve months after termination from their respective positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii State Ethics Commission, Common Cause Hawaii, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that it is in the public interest to keep a distinct wall of separation between lobbyists and the State's elected officials and certain other government employees.

Your Committee notes that the twelve month prohibition on lobbying for certain elected officials and government employees are in addition to the statutory restrictions on post-employment contained in section 84-18, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the prohibition on former legislators or employees from disclosing any information that is not available to the public or using the information for personal gain or benefit to anyone applies to those that were employed by the State for less than one hundred eighty days;

(2) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2124, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2124, 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