Hawaii’s may have earned its only failing grade in the State Integrity Investigation for its state insurance commissioner.

But the state earned perfect scores for having strong conflict of interest and gifts rules that apply to the commissioner and his staff.

Hawaii received an overall F, or 57 percent, grade in the State Insurance Commissions category. That put us in 37th place, tied with North Dakota. Mississippi came in first. At the bottom was Wyoming.

Overall, the State Integrity Investigation ranked Hawaii 10th after Civil Beat reporters researched 330 “Corruption Risk Indicators” across 14 categories of government. (Click here to learn more about the methodology used for the project.)

Bottom line: Hawaii gets due credit for having strong conflict of interest and gift rules, as well as post-employment restrictions for the private sector for employees of the insurance commissioner’s office.

Here’s the basis for the 100-percent grade that contributed to the overall 57 percent score in the State Insurance Commissions category. It’s your turn to evaluate whether Civil Beat got it right and to share what you think should be done to improve the situation. Share your comments at the bottom of this story.

Here’s the first question the State Integrity Investigation asked regarding state insurance commissions.

Are there conflicts of interest regulations covering members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission?

Overall score: 100%

Here are the criteria Civil Beat used to answer that question and what Civil Beat found.

1. In law, there are restrictions on the members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission entering the private sector after leaving the government.

Notes: There is no state insurance commission, but there is a state insurance commissioner. The post employment restriction also applies to state employees, including members of boards and commissions. For 12 months at the end of their employment, former employees are not allowed to represent any business or person for a fee on issues they participated on.

Sources:

Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 84 Standards of Conduct, Part II. Code of Ethics, §84-18 Restrictions on post employment. Visit (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol02_Ch0046-0115/HRS0084/HRS_0084-0018.htm) for details.

Score: 100%

Scoring criteria: These are the scoring criteria for this question.
Yes: A YES score is earned if there are regulations restricting the ability of the members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission to take positions in the private sector after leaving government that would present a conflict of interest, including positions that directly seek to influence their former government colleagues.
No: A NO score is earned if no such restrictions exist.

2. In law, members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission are required to file regular asset disclosure forms.

Notes: There is no state insurance commission, but there is a state insurance commissioner. State law requires every commission or board member whose term exceeds one year and whose role is more than advisory to file a financial disclosure. This includes the state insurance commissioner.

Sources:

Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 84 Standards of Conduct, Part II. Code of Ethics, §84-17 Requirements of disclosure. Visit (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol02_Ch0046-0115/HRS0084/HRS_0084-0017.htm) for details.

Score: 100%

Scoring criteria: These are the scoring criteria for this question.
Yes: A YES score is earned if members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission are required by law to file asset disclosure forms while in office, illustrating sources of income, stock holdings, and other assets.
No: A NO score is earned if members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission are not required to disclose assets.

3. In law, there are regulations governing gifts and hospitality offered to the members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission.

Notes: There is no state insurance commission, but there is a state insurance commissioner. State law prohibits employees from soliciting, accepting or receiving any gifts meant to influence or reward them. Employees are required to file a disclosure statement with the State Ethics Commission for gift or gifts valued more than $200 from one source.

Sources:

Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 84 Standards of Conduct, Part II. Code of Ethics, §84-11 Gifts. Visit (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol02_Ch0046-0115/HRS0084/HRS_0084-0011.htm) for details.

Score: 100%

Scoring criteria: These are the scoring criteria for this question.
Yes: A YES score is earned if there are formal guidelines regulating gifts and hospitality offered to members of the members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission.
No: A NO score is earned if there are no guidelines or regulations with respect to gifts and hospitality offered to the members of the board and senior staff of the state insurance commission. A NO score is also earned if the guidelines are overly general and do not specify what is and is not appropriate.

Discussion: