SB 1351 Summary

• Establishes the Office of Public Accountability administratively attached to the legislature, headed by an executive director appointed by majority vote of the legislature for a six-year term and removable only by two-thirds vote for neglect of duty, misconduct, or disability.

• Consolidates oversight and administrative responsibility for five agencies under the Office of Public Accountability: the office of the auditor (audit division), office of the ombudsman and office of information practices (complaints division), Hawaii state ethics commission (ethics division), and campaign spending commission (campaign spending division).

• Relocates these five agencies from their current placements (auditor and ombudsman from legislature, ethics commission from auditor's office, campaign spending commission from department of accounting and general services, and information practices office from department of accounting and general services) to the new consolidated office.

• Appropriates general revenues for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to cover operating expenses of the office of public accountability (specific dollar amount left blank in the bill).

• Takes effect July 1, 2021.