What are the legal requirements related to public officials, employees and volunteers?

In Hawaii, public officials, employees, and volunteers of the state government must adhere to a number of legal requirements. Public officials, including those in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, are subject to general ethical standards under the Hawaii State Constitution. These standards include maintaining an ethical conduct in public office, and refraining from receiving or agreeing to receive compensations or gratuities for official actions. Public employees, including state workers and those employed by public entities, must comply with any applicable laws, regulations, and policies, as well as the terms of their employment contract or collective bargaining agreement. All public employees are also prohibited from receiving personal financial gain from their official positions. Volunteers, meanwhile, must adhere to any applicable laws, policies, and codes of conduct specific to their agency. However, volunteers are exempt from Hawaii’s ethics laws, meaning they are not generally subject the same financial restrictions that public officials and employees are. Volunteers should also be aware that certain activities, such as the use of government property and resources, may be subject to certain restrictions. Finally, all public officials, employees, and volunteers should understand that Hawaii’s open records and meetings laws make many of their activities open to public inspection. This means that members of the public may have access to public records and can attend meetings that involve public officials, employees, or volunteers.

What are the legal requirements related to public officials, employees and volunteers?

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