Hawaii Senate Bill SCR2

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/23
• Refer: 1/30/23

Caption

Urging The County Governments To Review Their Respective Government Structures To Identify Organizational Risks Of Corruption And Ethical Violations And To Develop Systematic Improvements To Minimize Those Risks.

Impact

The resolution puts forth recommendations for county governments to examine existing structural gaps that could have contributed to ethical breaches, such as corruption within the Departments of Planning and Permitting and affordable housing approvals. This review process might lead to significant reforms in organizational practices, thus strengthening ethical governance. The resolution emphasizes a collaborative approach wherein counties are encouraged to utilize state resources to conduct these reviews and address the identified issues effectively.

Summary

S.C.R. No. 2, introduced during the Thirty-second Legislature of Hawaii in 2023, aims to address concerns of corruption and ethical violations within county governments. The resolution urges county governments to review their structures to identify organizational risks that may lead to unethical behavior. This call to action comes in response to several high-profile corruption cases involving county officials that have eroded public trust. By advocating for systematic improvements, the bill aims to restore faith in local governance and ensure adherence to ethical standards.

Contention

While S.C.R. No. 2 advocates for reform, some may argue about the sufficiency of the proposed measures. The adequacy of merely reviewing existing structures without enforcing mandatory guidelines or accountability mechanisms may be a point of contention. Additionally, how effectively these reviews lead to meaningful change and whether they can prevent future ethical violations will be closely monitored. Stakeholders may debate the initial effectiveness of the resolution in mitigating the trust deficit caused by past incidents.