The Maui News

The state House of Representatives will take steps to improve public access and strengthen ethics training for lawmakers after a former Maui senator and former Oahu representative pleaded guilty to bribery charges on Tuesday.

House Speaker Scott Saiki announced a number of initiatives on Wednesday, including reopening the State Capitol Building to the public on March 7.

House members, staff and the public will be required to adhere to the state vaccination policy, which requires proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours to enter state property and facilities.

House members will be physically present at the State Capitol for floor sessions and committee hearings unless they receive an ADA exemption.

Committee hearings will be conducted in a hybrid manner. Oral public testimony may be provided in person or by videoconference.

The House gallery will be open during floor sessions to members of the public who are in compliance with the state vaccination policy.

Reopening protocols are subject to change, according to a news release from the House. Additional details will be provided as they are finalized.

Senate President Ronald Kouchi, however, said that the Senate was not consulted prior to Saiki’s announcement that the State Capitol would reopen to the public. Kouchi said he informed senators that “we have been working with Comptroller Curt Otaguro of the Department of Accounting and General Services regarding policies and procedures for reopening the State Capitol, including a firm reopening date.”

Kouchi said his office reached out to Otaguro, who confirmed he had not set March 7 as a firm reopening date with Saiki. Despite Saiki’s announcement, the Senate “will await official word from Mr. Otaguro,” Kouchi told senators in a memo on Wednesday.

Saiki, however, said that the plans to reopen the Capitol and other steps would help regain the public’s trust after former Maui Sen. J. Kalani English, who retired in May, and former Oahu Rep. Ty Cullen, who resigned last week, pleaded guilty to taking bribes in exchange for shaping legislation while in office.

“These preliminary actions reflect the House of Representatives’ resolve to be more transparent and to increase public participation in the legislative process,” Saiki said. “The House also recognizes the need for much more to be done to build back the public’s trust.”

The House also plans to strengthen ethics training by having the State Ethics Commission conduct a refresher for House members on March 9. House members last completed the biennial ethics training on Jan. 22.

The House has also requested that the Ethics Commission offer ethics training for lobbyists and government contractors.

Another initiative involves creating a Commission to Increase Standards of Conduct. The House is introducing House Resolution 9 to create the commission to recommend ways to improve current ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws and standard of conduct regulations.

Commission members include retired Judge Daniel Foley, who will serve as chairperson; Robert Harris, executive director of the State Ethics Commission; Kristin Izumi-Nitao, executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission; Sandy Ma, executive director of Common Cause Hawaii; Barbara Marumoto, former state representative; Janet Mason, League of Women Voters; and Florence Nakakuni, former U.S. attorney for the District of Hawaii.

The commission is requested to provide interim recommendations prior to March 31 and final recommendations prior to Dec. 1.