Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB127 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 127 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to fraud. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 127
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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9	9	H.B. NO.
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11	11	127
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to fraud.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the house of representatives adopted House Resolution No. 9 (2022) to establish the commission to improve standards of conduct. The resolution requested the commission to ensure that state laws and rules relating to standards of conduct for public officers and employees contain clear provisions for standards, enforcement, and penalties. The resolution also asked the commission to provide recommendations to increase awareness of, compliance with, and the deterrent effects of the code of ethics, lobbying laws, campaign finance laws, and other relevant laws and rules. The legislature further finds that an essential goal of the commission was to provide recommendations that would help restore public trust in state government and increase the levels of government transparency and individual accountability. The strength and stability of our democratic government rely upon the public's trust in government institutions, including the expectation that officers act ethically and with prudence, integrity, and sound judgment. The legislature notes that, pursuant to House Resolution No. 9, the commission to improve standards of conduct convened regularly throughout 2022 to diligently review, discuss, and consider the issues presented. The commission submitted an interim report to the house of representatives outlining areas of immediate and long-term focus and then continued its work with input from the public and invited individuals and agencies. The commission issued a final report with various recommendations and proposed legislation. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to implement the commission's recommendations to improve standards of conduct relating to combatting fraud, waste, and corruption by: (1) Establishing the offense of making a false, frivolous, or fraudulent claim against the State or any county; (2) Prohibiting the use or making of false statements or entries in matters within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the State; and (3) Establishing a general fraud statute that is intended to cover schemes to obtain financial or other gains by means of false statements, misrepresentations, concealment of important information, or deception. The legislature also notes that this Act is modeled after the following federal fraud statutes: (1) Title 18 United States Code section 287 (false claims); (2) Title 18 United States Code section 1001 (false statements); (3) Title 18 United States Code section 1341 (mail fraud); (4) Title 18 United States Code section 1343 (wire fraud); (5) Title 18 United States Code section 1344 (bank fraud); and (6) Title 18 United States Code section 1346 (definition of "scheme or artifice to defraud"). Therefore, in applying this Act, state courts and counsel should look to federal caselaw and precedent for direction. It should be noted that references in the federal statutes to "mail" and "wire" merely provide the nexus for federal jurisdiction. SECTION 2. Chapter 708, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§708- Fraud. (1) A person commits the offense of fraud if, with the intent to defraud, the person executes or attempts to execute any scheme or artifice to defraud or for the purpose of obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises. (2) For purposes of this section, "scheme or artifice to defraud" includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services. (3) Fraud is a class B felony, and a person convicted under this section shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year, without the possibility of probation." SECTION 3. Chapter 710, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§710- False, fictitious, or fraudulent claims. (1) A person commits the offense of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim against the State or a county if the person makes or presents to any agent of the State, counties, or any department or agency thereof, any claim upon or against the State, county, department, or agency, that the person knows to be false, fictitious, or fraudulent. (2) Any person charged under this section shall not be eligible for a deferred acceptance of guilty plea or nolo contendere plea under chapter 853. (3) Making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim against the State or a county is a class C felony. §710- Use of false statements or entries; generally. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person commits the offense of using or making false statements or entries if, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the State, the person knowingly and wilfully: (a) Falsifies, conceals, or covers up a material fact by any trick, scheme, or device; (b) Makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or (c) Makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the writing or document contains any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry. (2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party's counsel, for statements, representations, writings, or documents submitted by the party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in the proceeding. (3) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislature, subsection (1) shall apply only to: (a) Administrative matters, including: (i) A claim for payment; (ii) A matter related to the procurement of property or services; (iii) Personnel or employment practices; (iv) Support services; or (v) A document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the legislature or any office or officer within the legislature; or (b) Any investigation or review conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission, or office of the legislature, consistent with applicable rules of the senate or house of representatives." SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date. SECTION 5. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable. SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ By Request
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the house of representatives adopted House Resolution No. 9 (2022) to establish the commission to improve standards of conduct. The resolution requested the commission to ensure that state laws and rules relating to standards of conduct for public officers and employees contain clear provisions for standards, enforcement, and penalties. The resolution also asked the commission to provide recommendations to increase awareness of, compliance with, and the deterrent effects of the code of ethics, lobbying laws, campaign finance laws, and other relevant laws and rules.
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51	51	The legislature further finds that an essential goal of the commission was to provide recommendations that would help restore public trust in state government and increase the levels of government transparency and individual accountability. The strength and stability of our democratic government rely upon the public's trust in government institutions, including the expectation that officers act ethically and with prudence, integrity, and sound judgment.
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53	53	The legislature notes that, pursuant to House Resolution No. 9, the commission to improve standards of conduct convened regularly throughout 2022 to diligently review, discuss, and consider the issues presented. The commission submitted an interim report to the house of representatives outlining areas of immediate and long-term focus and then continued its work with input from the public and invited individuals and agencies. The commission issued a final report with various recommendations and proposed legislation.
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55	55	Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to implement the commission's recommendations to improve standards of conduct relating to combatting fraud, waste, and corruption by:
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57	57	(1) Establishing the offense of making a false, frivolous, or fraudulent claim against the State or any county;
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59	59	(2) Prohibiting the use or making of false statements or entries in matters within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the State; and
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61	61	(3) Establishing a general fraud statute that is intended to cover schemes to obtain financial or other gains by means of false statements, misrepresentations, concealment of important information, or deception.
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63	63	The legislature also notes that this Act is modeled after the following federal fraud statutes:
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65	65	(1) Title 18 United States Code section 287 (false claims);
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67	67	(2) Title 18 United States Code section 1001 (false statements);
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69	69	(3) Title 18 United States Code section 1341 (mail fraud);
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71	71	(4) Title 18 United States Code section 1343 (wire fraud);
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73	73	(5) Title 18 United States Code section 1344 (bank fraud); and
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75	75	(6) Title 18 United States Code section 1346 (definition of "scheme or artifice to defraud").
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77	77	Therefore, in applying this Act, state courts and counsel should look to federal caselaw and precedent for direction. It should be noted that references in the federal statutes to "mail" and "wire" merely provide the nexus for federal jurisdiction.
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79	79	SECTION 2. Chapter 708, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
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81	81	"§708- Fraud. (1) A person commits the offense of fraud if, with the intent to defraud, the person executes or attempts to execute any scheme or artifice to defraud or for the purpose of obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.
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83	83	(2) For purposes of this section, "scheme or artifice to defraud" includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.
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85	85	(3) Fraud is a class B felony, and a person convicted under this section shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year, without the possibility of probation."
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87	87	SECTION 3. Chapter 710, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
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89	89	"§710- False, fictitious, or fraudulent claims. (1) A person commits the offense of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim against the State or a county if the person makes or presents to any agent of the State, counties, or any department or agency thereof, any claim upon or against the State, county, department, or agency, that the person knows to be false, fictitious, or fraudulent.
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91	91	(2) Any person charged under this section shall not be eligible for a deferred acceptance of guilty plea or nolo contendere plea under chapter 853.
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93	93	(3) Making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim against the State or a county is a class C felony.
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95	95	§710- Use of false statements or entries; generally. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person commits the offense of using or making false statements or entries if, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the State, the person knowingly and wilfully:
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97	97	(a) Falsifies, conceals, or covers up a material fact by any trick, scheme, or device;
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99	99	(b) Makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
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101	101	(c) Makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the writing or document contains any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry.
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103	103	(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party's counsel, for statements, representations, writings, or documents submitted by the party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in the proceeding.
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105	105	(3) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislature, subsection (1) shall apply only to:
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107	107	(a) Administrative matters, including:
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109	109	(i) A claim for payment;
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111	111	(ii) A matter related to the procurement of property or services;
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113	113	(iii) Personnel or employment practices;
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115	115	(iv) Support services; or
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117	117	(v) A document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the legislature or any office or officer within the legislature; or
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119	119	(b) Any investigation or review conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission, or office of the legislature, consistent with applicable rules of the senate or house of representatives."
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121	121	SECTION 4. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
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123	123	SECTION 5. If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.
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125	125	SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.
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127	127	SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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131	131	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
132	132	By Request
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134	134	INTRODUCED BY:
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136	136	_____________________________
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140	140	By Request
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142	142	Report Title: Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Public Corruption; Fraud; Criminal Offenses; Penalties Description: Establishes the offense of fraud as a class B felony. Establishes the offense of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim against the State or a county as a class C felony. Establishes the offense of the use of false statements or entries in matters within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the State as a class C felony. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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148	148	Report Title:
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150	150	Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Package; Public Corruption; Fraud; Criminal Offenses; Penalties
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154	154	Description:
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156	156	Establishes the offense of fraud as a class B felony. Establishes the offense of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim against the State or a county as a class C felony. Establishes the offense of the use of false statements or entries in matters within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the State as a class C felony.
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164	164	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.