THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

87

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting state legislators to utilize uniform procedures for the custody, inventory, and care of protocol gifts received on behalf of the state or either house of the legislature.

 

 

     WHEREAS, from time to time, Legislators accept protocol gifts on behalf of the State or either chamber of the legislature from foreign officials, federal officers, or officials from other states; and

 

     WHEREAS, these gifts may symbolize goodwill or strengthen international or national friendships; and

 

     WHEREAS, failure to accept such a gift may cause embarrassment to the donor and the recipient; and

 

     WHEREAS, these gifts may be small tokens, such as a fountain pen or a gift that a state is famous for, or may be larger gifts, such as a painting, musical instrument, or commemorative plate; and

 

     WHEREAS, these gifts may be of immense historical interest and illustrate a long and storied history between a visiting dignitary and the People of Hawaii; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that State Legislators are respectfully requested to utilize uniform procedures for the custody, inventory, and care of protocol gifts received by Legislators on behalf of the State or either chamber of the Legislature; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon direct or indirect receipt of a protocol gift of any value on behalf to the State or either chamber of the Legislature, every Legislator is requested to keep a written record of the following:

 

     (1)  A description of the protocol gift;

 

     (2)  The date on which the protocol gift was received; and

 

     (3)  The identity of the individual donor, government agency, entity, or organization that gave the gift or on whose behalf the protocol gift was given; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each Legislator is requested to exercise reasonable care in the maintenance of any protocol gift in the Legislator's possession that is included in the written record; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all protocol gifts listed on the written record shall be the property of the State rather than the Legislator who received the protocol gift; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the end of a Legislator's term of office, the protocol gift and the written record may:

 

     (1)  Remain with the Legislator's office, and transfer to the succeeding Legislator, who shall thereafter be responsible for maintaining the written record and the protocol gift;

 

     (2)  Be transferred to the State Archives; or

 

     (3)  Be transferred to the State Foundation on Culture and The Arts; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Majority Leader of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Majority

Leader of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, State Comptroller, and Director of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Ethics; Protocol Gifts; Written Record; Maintenance