STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2775

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2138

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2138, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to subject interns who work for the State to the provisions of chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, otherwise known as the State Ethics Code, by defining and including the term "intern" in the definition of "employees" under the Code.

Your Committee did not receive any testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that existing law is unclear with respect to the applicability of the State Ethics Code to individuals classified as interns. Your Committee further finds that, although the State Ethics Commission interprets the State Ethics Code to apply to interns working for the State, this interpretation is not codified and as a result, may be subject to inconsistent interpretation and application. Accordingly, this measure clarifies, in statute, that the State Ethics Code applies to interns working for the State.

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 S.B. No. 2138, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair