Bill Text: HI SCR149 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Lobbyists; Disclosures; Task Force; Ethics Commission

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-16 - (S) Referred to JDL. [SCR149 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SCR149-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	149
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the Hawaii State Ethics Commission to establish a task force to review lobbyist disclosure laws and Lobbyist disclosure reports and recommend legislation to Ensure Transparency and public disclosure of lobbyist expenditures.

 

 

     WHEREAS, a properly functioning democracy is important to the health of our community; and

 

     WHEREAS, our democratic government depends upon public trust in decision making processes, which relies upon the decision making process being free from undue influence by parties favoring interests narrower than the general interests of the public; and

 

     WHEREAS, all interests, public and private, may legitimately participate in the making of public policy; and

 

     WHEREAS, public disclosure and transparency of lobbying activities of all types are critical to provide accountability, enhance public trust, and reduce the existence and perception of undue influence in government policy making; and

 

     WHEREAS, despite increasing public concerns and interest in lobbying activities, lobbyist disclosure laws have not been significantly updated since their initial adoption in 1975; and

 

     WHEREAS, lobbyists and lobbying organizations may have relationships with elected officials that are not required to be disclosed under lobbyist disclosure laws, particularly contracts for services that provide a significant source of income to the elected officials; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii State Ethics Commission is requested to establish a task force to review lobbyist disclosure laws and lobbyist disclosure reports and recommend legislation to ensure transparency and public disclosure of lobbyist expenditures; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be comprised of the following members:

 

     (1)  The Executive Director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission or the Executive Director's designee;

 

     (2)  Two members who are registered lobbyists, selected by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission;

 

     (3)  One member who represents a public interest group, selected by the President of the Senate;

 

     (4)  One member who represents a public interest group, selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (5)  One member who represents the news media, selected by the President of the Senate; and

 

     (6)  One member who represents the news media, selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to:

 

     (1)  Review lobbyist reporting requirements, including:

 

         (A)  Who is required to file;

 

         (B)  Frequency of report filings;

 

         (C)  Information included in disclosure reports;

 

         (D)  Reporting of lobbyist contractual relationships with and campaign contributions to elected officials; and

 

         (E)  Reporting of gifts, meals, and events paid for by lobbyists or lobbying organizations; and

 

     (2)  Review Hawaii State Ethics Commission procedures, including filing procedures for lobbyists and lobbying organizations and procedures for making disclosure reports accessible to the public via the Internet;

 

     (3)  Examine information reported on lobbyist disclosure reports in recent years to determine areas in which transparency or public disclosure of lobbyist expenditures may be enhanced; and

 

     (4)  Review best practices for lobbying disclosures in other states and at the federal level, and assess the feasibility of implementing those best practices in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2013; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force cease to exist upon adjournment sine die of the Regular Session of 2013; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force, upon the request of this body, participate in a joint informational briefing to discuss its report; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Hawaii State Ethics Commission.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Lobbyists; Disclosures; Task Force; Ethics Commission