SB 217 Summary

• Establishes statutory procedures for impeachment of the governor, lieutenant governor, and appointive officers whose removal requires senate consent, as required by Article III, Section 19 of the Hawaii Constitution.

• Defines three causes for impeachment: treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors; misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance; or moral turpitude.

• Requires two-thirds concurrence of senate members for conviction of impeachment and grants the House sole power of impeachment while the Senate has sole power to try impeachments.

• Establishes detailed procedures including appointment of an investigative committee, preparation of articles of impeachment, service requirements (minimum 30 days notice), and organization of the court of impeachment with a presiding chief justice.

• Provides for compensation of senators, managers, witnesses, court personnel, and related expenses of impeachment proceedings to be paid from the state general fund.