STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1161

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 142

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, 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 and intent of this measure is to prohibit lobbyists from making gifts that are prohibited under state ethics law.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission, Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the same gifting regulations that apply to state employees, legislators, and board and commission members should apply to lobbyists. This will lessen the number of situations where a legislator or state employee must refuse a prohibited gift. This measure will prohibit lobbyists from making prohibited gifts to legislators and state employees with administrative fines imposed for violations.

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 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,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair