Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor (JDL) - chair: Clayton Hee, vice chair: Maile S.L. Shimabukuro

Tuesday, February 5, 2013, 10:00 a.m. Conf Rm 016

Testifier: Janet F. Mason, Vice-President, LWV of Hawaii

Click here to view SB66

Chair Hee, Vice-Chair Shimabukuro and Committee Members: The League of Women Voters supports SB 66 which provides for pu;lic disclosure of the financial statements of state boards or commissions that have official authority that includes approving, issuing, or renewing permits or licenses relating to land use, water use, or the regulation of public utilities. We believe the public officials described in this measure serve in good faith as the "eyes and ears of the public" for critical policy and permitting decisions for our State. We further believe providing financial dislosure to the Ethics Commission is the source of the bright light which guarantees to the public these decisions will be made without personal conflicts of interest on the part of these officials. Like executive public officials, when state board members or commissioners make their financial statements available for inspection and duplication, it builds trust with the public that important State transactions are completed with the best interests of the public in mind. The value of building a culture of honesty and openness in public affairs is impossible to quantify, but it's real. We urge you to pass this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.