House Committee on Judiciary (JUD) - chair: Karl Rhoads, vice chair: Sharon E. Har

Monday, March 24, 2014, 2:00 P..M.., Room 308

Testifier: Anna Hoover, Legislative Committee, LWV of Hawaii

Click here to view SB2682, SD1

Chair Rhoads, Vice-Chair Har, and Committee Members: The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supports SB2682, SD1, HD1 that requires the financial disclosure statements of members of certain boards and commissions to be made available to the public. We feel that when board and commission members are responsible for decisions on matters in the public interest the public should be able to know if any member of that body has a personal financial or economic stake in the matters before them. While the Ethics Commission lacks resources to scrutinize all financial disclosure forms members of the public who have a specific interest in issues before a board or commission as well as the members themselves should have access to the financial disclosure information to be able to identify if there is a conflict of interest. In particular the financial disclosure statements of members of the board of regents of the University of Hawaii are in consonance with the scope and power associated with their responsibilities and authority. We support the addition of the other state boards, commissions and agencies in this measure. It is in the public interest for any person to be able to know if any member of these bodies has a personal financial or economic stake in a matter before them. >p>For government to work people must have faith in the integrity of its officials. We urge you to pass this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony.