Chair Rhoads, Vice Chair San Buenaventura, and Committee Members:
The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supports SB 1194, SD2, requiring electronic filing of lobbyist disclosure statements which would also be posted online. Provided the online filing system was well-designed this could make it easier for lobbyists to complete the reports as well as making it easier for the public to access them.
The State Ethics Commission previously expressed its concern that their current electronic filing system did not work well and was inadequate for the job. If the State Ethics Commission needs to upgrade their electronic filing system, a reasonable amount of money should be provided for this purpose, lest the Ethics Commission have an unfunded mandate.
The League of Women Voters of Hawaii urges you to pass SB 1194, SD2 and give the State Ethics Commission an adequate appropriation. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
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