Panel mulls reforms to improve elected official conduct
HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaii commission formed to improve standards of conduct for elected officials after a bribery scandal rocked the Legislature this year met Wednesday to discuss ethics-related reform proposals.
Robert Harris, a panel member who is also the executive director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, introduced proposals including requiring training for lobbyists and making it illegal for lobbyists to give gifts. Legislators and state employees are prohibited from accepting gifts above a certain dollar value, or gifts that aren’t reported.
