STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1875

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 72

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 72 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE ETHICS COMMISSION OF EACH COUNTY TO ADOPT STANDARDS SIMILAR TO THAT APPLICABLE TO STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS AS ADOPTED AND ENFORCED BY THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the ethics commission of each county to adopt standards similar to that applicable to state elected officials and officers as adopted and enforced by the State Ethics Commission.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals.

Your Committee finds that the ethics standards for officials and officers vary across the counties of the State. According to testimony received by your Committee, the uniform adoption of ethics standards across state and county levels will help promote honesty and integrity, restore and maintain public trust, and improve the perception of integrity in county governments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 72, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair