§96-2  Ombudsman; office established,
appointment, tenure, removal, qualifications, salary, vacancy.  The office
of ombudsman is established.  The legislature, by a majority vote of each house
in joint session, shall appoint an ombudsman who shall serve for a period of
six years and thereafter until a successor shall have been appointed.  An
ombudsman may be reappointed but may not serve for more than three terms.  The
legislature, by two-thirds vote of the members in joint session, may remove or
suspend the ombudsman from office, but only for neglect of duty, misconduct, or
disability.



No person may serve as ombudsman within two
years of the last day on which the person served as a member of the
legislature, or while the person is a candidate for or holds any other state
office, or while the person is engaged in any other occupation for reward or
profit.  Effective July 1, 2005, the salary of the ombudsman shall be the same
as the salary of the director of health.  The salary of the ombudsman shall not
be diminished during the ombudsman's term of office, unless by general law
applying to all salaried officers of the State.



If the ombudsman dies, resigns, becomes
ineligible to serve, or is removed or suspended from office, the first
assistant to the ombudsman becomes the acting ombudsman until a new ombudsman
is appointed for a full term. [L 1967, c 306, §3; HRS §96-2; am L 1969, c 127,
§6; am L 1974, c 46, §2; am L 1975, c 58, §33; am L 1982, c 129, §32(1); gen ch
1985; am L 1986, c 128, §30(1); am L 1989, c 329, §20(1); am L 2005, c 225, §6]



 



Attorney General Opinions



 



  Funds for operation of office constitute funds for
"expenses of the legislature" within meaning of Const., Art. VI, §5. 
Att. Gen. Op. 69-4.



 



Law Journals and Reviews



 



  The Ombudsman in Hawaii:  The Basic Premises.  7 HBJ 17.