STAND. COM. REP. NO. 807

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 955

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 955 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require financial disclosure statements of state agency executive directors to be public records available for inspection and duplication.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, directors of state departments are required to publicly disclose their financial disclosure statements although departmental executive directors are not. Your Committee further finds that including executive directors in public disclosure requirements increases transparency in state government. Your Committee additionally finds that the requirements of this measure apply to all persons who function as executive directors of agencies regardless of whether or not the title of the person's position actually is "executive director".

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. 955 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