STAND. COM. REP. NO. 288

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 142

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 142 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GIFTS FROM LOBBYISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit lobbyists from making gifts that are prohibited under state ethics laws.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission, Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure implements one of the recommendations made by the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct established by the House of Representatives in House Resolution No. 9, Regular Session of 2022. Your Committee further finds that the State Code of Ethics already imposes gift restrictions on legislators and state employees. This measure would prohibit gift-giving by lobbyists, thereby relieving legislators and state employees from having to decline or navigate these situations that may have the appearance of impropriety.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 142 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair