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State ethics official urges Maui to model lobbyist rules on State law to boost transparency
Summary
Robert Harris of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission told the Board Maui should align its lobbyist registration, reporting, and enforcement with State law—suggesting quarterly reporting tied to the Council legislative cycle, expenditure disclosure by bill, gift prohibitions for lobbyists, and mandatory training.
Robert Harris, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, presented to the Maui Board of Ethics on April 8 and recommended that Maui County model its lobbyist rules on the State framework to ensure transparency and practical enforcement.
Harris said lobbyist laws exist primarily to increase public visibility into who is spending money to influence government decisions and suggested Maui adopt registration thresholds, require both organizations and lobbyists to report expenditures, and align reporting timelines with the pace of County legislation—potentially on a quarterly basis. He also recommended requiring lobbyists to disclose the specific bills or budget items they seek to influence, limiting gifts from lobbyists to public officials and employees, and instituting mandatory ethics training for lobbyists. Harris described enforcement options that range from proactive education to modest fines and noted the State’s experience balancing outreach with occasional formal penalties.
EDLC Akitake said the Board should work with Office of Council Services to draft a bill that mirrors State law where practicable. Following discussion, the Board voted unanimously to approve working with OCS on a draft for Board review. Members asked questions about campaign advertising versus lobbying and about practical enforcement procedures; Harris advised flexible, plain‑language rules and an initial adjustment period before strict enforcement.
