Bill Text: HI HB2420 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Ethics.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-23 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. [HB2420 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2420-Introduced.html
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2420 |
|
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ETHICS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hatch Act, a federal law passed in 1939 and amended in 1993, limits the allowable political activities of federal and District of Columbia employees, as well as some state and local government employees who work in connection with federally-funded programs. The federal law's purposes are to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion, to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace, and to ensure that federal employees are advanced based on merit and not based on political affiliation.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii's state code of ethics under chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, promotes standards of ethical conduct regarding conflicts of interests, fair treatment, confidential information, and the solicitation and receipt of gifts for nominated, appointed, and elected officers, employees, and candidates. However, state law does not contain comprehensive restrictions on political activity for any state officers or employees.
Applying restrictions on the participation in political activities of state government officers and employees who are employed or hold office in state positions with adjudicatory, regulatory, law enforcement, or investigative responsibilities as a regular part of their duties, ensures that political activity by these officers and employees does not compromise public confidence and trust in government.
The purpose of this Act is to establish restrictions on the participation in partisan political activities of certain state employees and officers who regularly engage in adjudicatory, regulatory, law enforcement, or investigatory duties.
SECTION 2. Chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"PART
GOVERNMENT OFFICERS' AND EMPLOYEES'
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
§84- Purpose. It is the policy of the State that government officers and employees should be encouraged to exercise fully, freely, and without fear of penalty or reprisal, and to the extent not expressly prohibited by law, their right to participate or to refrain from participating in the political processes of the State.
§84- Applicability of part. Effective July 1, 2019, this part shall apply to every nominated, appointed, or elected officer or employee of the State, including employees under contract to the State, of the:
(1) Department of the attorney general;
(2) Department of defense;
(3) Campaign spending commission;
(4) Employees' retirement system;
(5) Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund;
(6) Hawaii labor relations board;
(7) Labor and industrial relations appeals board;
(8) Land use commission;
(9) Merit appeals board;
(10) Office of consumer protection;
(11) Office of elections;
(12) Office of environmental quality control;
(13) Public utilities commission;
(14) Regulated industries complaints office;
(15) State health planning and development agency; and
(16) State procurement office.
§84- Definitions.
"Partisan political office" means any office for which any candidate is nominated or elected as representing a party any of whose candidates for governor received votes in the last preceding election at which gubernatorial elections were held, but shall exclude any office or position within a political party or affiliated organization.
"Political contribution" means any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value, made for any political purpose. This term includes:
(1) Any contract, promise, or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make a contribution for any political purpose;
(2) Any payment by any person, other than a candidate or a political party or affiliated organization, of compensation for the personal services of another person which are rendered to any candidate or political party or affiliated organization without charge for any political purpose; and
(3) The provision of personal services for any political purpose.
§84- Political activity authorized; prohibitions.
(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an officer or employee may take an active part in political management or in political campaigns, except an officer or employee shall not:
(1) Use the officer's or employee's official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election;
(2) Knowingly solicit, accept, or receive a political contribution from any person, unless the person is:
(A) A member of the same labor organization as defined under title 5 United States Code section 7103(4) or a state employee organization that as of the effective date of Act , Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, had a multicandidate political committee (as defined under section 315(a)(4) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (title 2 United States Code 441a(a)(4)); and
(B) Not a subordinate employee;
provided that the solicitation is for a contribution to the multicandidate political committee of such labor organization or a state employee organization;
(3) Run for the nomination or as a candidate for election to a partisan political office; and
(4) Knowingly solicit or discourage the participation in any political activity of any person who:
(A) Has an application for any compensation, grant, contract, ruling, license, permit, or certificate pending before the employing office or agency of the officer or employee; or
(B) Is the subject of or a participant in an ongoing audit, investigation, or enforcement action being carried out by the employing office or agency of the officer or employee.
(b) No officer or employee subject to this part shall take an active part in political management or in a political campaign.
(c) All officers and employees of the State retain the right to vote as the officer or employee chooses and to express opinions on political subjects and candidates.
§84- Posting of requirements. Every state department or agency and every state court shall post the requirements of this part in a conspicuous place on its premises and on the department's, agency's, or court's official website. The commission shall prescribe the content of the posted information required under this part.
§84- Political activities on duty; prohibition. (a) An officer or employee shall not engage in political activity:
(1) While the officer or employee is on duty;
(2) In any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by an individual employed or holding office in the State or any agency or instrumentality thereof;
(3) While wearing a uniform or official insignia identifying the office or position of the officer or employee; or
(4) Using any vehicle owned or leased by the State or any agency or instrumentality thereof.
(b) This section shall apply to all officers and employees subject to this part, including those whose positions require duties and responsibilities that continue outside normal duty hours and while away from a normal duty post.
§84- Penalties. Any officer or employee who violates this part shall be subject to an administrative fine not to exceed $1,000 for each violation as provided in section 84-39."
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
Ethics; State Employees and Officials; Restrictions; Political Participation
Description:
Establishes restrictions on the participation in political activities of certain state employees and officers.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
