The Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct is an independent panel created by the Hawaii House of Representatives in February 2022, after two former legislators were charged with accepting bribes to sway wastewater legislation. The original mandate for the Commission was to provide recommendations to further the State’s Code of Ethics, lobbying laws and campaign finance laws.  At the suggestion of League Commissioner Janet Mason and Common Cause Commissioner Sandy Ma, election laws and open government topics were added to the Commission’s agenda. Though not subject to the State’s Sunshine Law, these Commissioners also persuaded the group to conduct its own business using a modified “Sunshine” approach.

In a “Voting and Elections” fact-finding session on June 15, Donna Oba assisted with a presentation on Vote 411 (Voter Education), and Jessica Jones Capparell, Director of Government Affairs for LWV-US, served as the resource person for a presentation on Term Limits. By August 2022, the seven-member Commission had completed its “fact finding” stage. Related Hearing Notices, Minutes, Documents, and Testimony Received can be found on the Commission’s website, where an Interim Report is also available: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/specialcommittee.aspx?comm=cisc&year=2022

The Commission now enters its discussion and recommendations stage and will meet again on October 5th. A live stream link of all meetings will be available online via YouTube shortly before the scheduled start time. Click here. Most recommendations will take the form of proposed legislation, but other recommendations will address House and Senate Rules. Select meetings are also broadcast here on ‘Ōlelo Community Media for cable TV.

by Janet Mason (photo)