THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2737
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO BRIBERY.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 710, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§710-   Failure to report bribery; state and county elected officials. (1) A state or county elected official commits the offense of failure to report bribery when the elected official:

(a) Knows that:

(i) A person has conferred, offered, or agreed to confer, directly or indirectly, any pecuniary benefit upon the elected official with the intent to influence the elected official's vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action in the elected official's official capacity in violation of section 710-1040(1)(a); or

(ii) The elected official has witnessed:

(A) A person confer, offer, or agree to confer, directly or indirectly, any pecuniary benefit upon another state or county elected official with the intent to influence that elected official's vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action in that elected official's official capacity in violation of section 710-1040(1)(a); or

(B) Another state or county elected official solicit, accept, or agree, directly or indirectly, any pecuniary benefit with the intent that the elected official's vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as an elected official will thereby be influenced in violation of section 710-1040(1)(b); and

(b) Fails to report the known or witnessed conduct to the department of the attorney general within sixty days after the date the elected officials knew of or witnessed the conduct.

(2) Failure to report bribery is a misdemeanor."

SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Bribery; Elected Official; Failure to Report; Pecuniary Benefit

Description:

Establishes the offense of failure to report bribery by a state or county elected official as a misdemeanor. Requires an elected official who knows of or witnesses the conferring, offering, solicitation, or acceptance of a pecuniary benefit in violation of the bribery statute to report the conduct to the Department of the Attorney General within sixty days.

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