Report Title:

Liquor Commission Employees; Political Activities

Description:

Repeals certain restrictions on liquor commission employees to support, advocate, or aid in the election or defeat of any candidate for public office.  (HB629 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	629
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO LIQUOR COMMISSION EMPLOYEES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 281-22, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     "[[]§281-22[]] Political activities of commission employees.  [(a)  A commission employee may support, advocate, or aid in the election or defeat of any candidate for public office, or run for public office; provided the employee:

(1)  Notifies the commission in writing of the employee's intent to support, advocate, or aid in the election or defeat of a candidate for public office; and

(2)  If a candidate for public office, takes a leave of absence in accordance with chapter 79 for a period beginning prior to the initiation of political activities related to the candidacy and ending the day following the general election for the office.

(b)] Notwithstanding chapter 11 or any other law to the contrary, no commission employee shall solicit or receive contributions, or receive or transfer money or anything of value from a licensee for the purpose of supporting, advocating, or aiding in the election or defeat of a candidate for public office.  Violation of this [subsection] section shall be:

     (1)  Punishable by summary dismissal of the employee; and

     (2)  Subject to penalties in accordance with section 11-228."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.

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