STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2103

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2217

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2217 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REPORTING PERIODS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide greater uniformity, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration and enforcement of the State Ethics Code and state lobbyists law by:

(1) Adjusting the reporting period for gift disclosures filed with the State Ethics Commission to conform with the state fiscal year; and

(2) Establishing a phased process for transitioning to a fiscal year-based reporting period.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission.

Your Committee finds that existing law requires legislators and employees to submit a gifts disclosure statement with the State Ethics Commission no later than June 30 of each year, covering a period from June 1 of the preceding calendar year through May 31 of the year of the report. However, the State fiscal year begins on July 1. This measure will promote conformity, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration and enforcement of the State Ethics Code and state lobbyists law by aligning the gift reporting requirement with the state fiscal year.

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. 2217 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