STAND. COM. REP. NO. 640-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1475

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Reform, to which was referred H.B. No. 1475 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MANDATORY ETHICS TRAINING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require all new state employees to complete ethics training either live or online within ninety days of the start of employment and every four years thereafter;

(2) Specify that certain state officers, including state legislators, are required to complete live ethics training; and

(3) Require existing state employees who have not received ethics training within the immediately preceding three years of the effective date of this measure to complete live or online ethics training within twelve months of this measure's effective date and every four years thereafter.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Common Cause Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committee finds that requiring all state officers and employees, including state legislators, to receive training on the State Ethics Code is in the best interests of the State. Regular training by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission will ensure that state officers and employees are aware of the existing state ethics laws and will increase the public's confidence and trust in state government.

Your Committee further finds that, now more than ever, it is of the utmost imperative that all state officers, employees, and especially state legislators, receive training on the State Ethics Code on a regular basis, and it is in the best interest of the State and the best course to restore public confidence in the system of elected representative government.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Reform that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1475 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Reform,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair