HB1717 HD2

Report Title:

Ethics Training

Description:

Provides for mandatory ethics training for legislators, elected members of the board of education, executive department heads and deputies, and trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs. (HB1717 HD2)

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1717
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to ethics.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part . Ethics training

§84- Mandatory ethics training program for legislators, elected members of the board of education, trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs, and executive department heads and deputies. (a) All legislators, elected members of the board of education, trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs, and executive department heads and deputies shall take ethics training courses administered by the state ethics commission as provided in this part. For the purposes of this part, "ethics training" includes education and training in ethics laws as provided in this chapter and lobbying laws as provided in chapter 97.

(b) The state ethics commission shall establish, design, supervise, and conduct a program of ethics training designed specifically for legislators, elected members of the board of education, trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs, and executive department heads and deputies.

§84- Ethics orientation courses for legislators, elected members of the board of education, trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs, and executive department heads and deputies. (a) The state ethics commission shall design the general curriculum of ethics orientation courses, which shall include explanations and discussions of the ethics laws, administrative rules, relevant internal policies, specific technical and legal requirements, the underlying purposes and principles of ethics laws, examples of practical application of the laws and principles, and a question-and-answer participatory segment regarding common problems and situations. The commission shall prepare the methods and materials necessary to implement the curriculum.

(b) The commission shall:

(1) Administer the orientation courses;

(2) Designate its legal staff to conduct the orientation courses; and

(3) Notify legislators, elected members of the board of education, trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs, and executive department heads and deputies regarding mandatory attendance in these courses.

(c) Every legislator, elected member of the board of education, trustee of the office of Hawaiian affairs, and executive department head and deputy required to attend training under section 84- shall attend the ethics orientation course. The ethics orientation course shall be held in January of each year for those who have not attended the course previously. Each course shall last at least two hours in length.

(d) The state ethics commission may permit a legislator, elected member of the board of education, trustee of the office of Hawaiian affairs, or executive department head and deputy to attend a later course for good cause shown.

(e) Each state agency shall cooperate fully with the state ethics commission in providing the names of those required to take the courses in a timely manner and fully assist the state ethics commission in providing adequate meeting facilities for the ethics orientation courses."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.