Report Title:

Ethics Training

 

Description:

Provides for mandatory ethics training for legislators, elected members of the board of education, executive department heads and deputies, and trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

680

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to ethics.

 

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"PART . MANDATORY ETHICS TRAINING

§84-A Applicability of part. This part applies to all legislators, elected members of the board of education, trustees of the office of Hawaiian affairs, and executive department heads and deputies. This part shall not apply to any other officer or employee of the State.

§84-B Mandatory ethics training program. (a) All state officers and employees enumerated in section 84-A shall complete ethics training courses administered by the state ethics commission as provided in this part. For the purposes of this part, "ethics training" includes:

(1) Education and training in ethics laws as provided in this chapter; and

(2) Lobbying laws as provided in chapter 97.

(b) The state ethics commission shall establish, design, supervise, and conduct a program of ethics training designed specifically for the officers and employees to whom this part applies.

§84-C Ethics orientation courses. (a) The state ethics commission shall design the general curriculum of ethics orientation courses, which shall include explanations and discussions of the ethics laws, administrative rules, relevant internal policies, specific technical and legal requirements, the underlying purposes and principles of ethics laws, examples of practical application of the laws and principles, and a question-and-answer participatory segment regarding common problems and situations. The commission shall develop the methods and prepare any materials necessary to implement the curriculum.

(b) The commission shall:

(1) Administer the orientation courses;

(2) Designate its legal staff to conduct the orientation courses; and

(3) Notify each officer or employee enumerated in section 84-A regarding mandatory attendance in these courses.

(c) Every officer and employee required to attend training under section 84-B shall attend the ethics orientation course. The ethics orientation course shall be held in January of each year for those who have not attended the course previously. Each course shall last at least two hours in length.

(d) The state ethics commission may permit an officer or employee who is required to attend the ethics orientation course to attend a later session of the course for good cause shown.

(e) Each state agency shall cooperate fully with the state ethics commission in providing the names of those required to take the courses in a timely manner and fully assist the state ethics commission in providing adequate meeting facilities for the ethics orientation courses."

SECTION 2. In codifying the new sections added by section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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