Hawaii House Policy on Disruptive Behavior

1. Chapter 27 Policy on Reporting and Eliminating Disruptive Behavior
Sec. 27.1. Policy statement. It is the policy of the House to promote a safe environment for all
members and employees. The House is committed to working with its members and employees to
maintain a work environment free from violence, threats of violence, harassment, intimidation, and other
disruptive behavior. Each member and employee shall receive a copy of the House's policy on reporting
and eliminating disruptive behavior.
Sexual harassment is always considered disruptive behavior, and the House will not tolerate it.
Sexual harassment includes harassment that involves the conditioning of employment or its benefits on
sexual favors, as well as harassment involving conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile,
disruptive, or offensive working environment.
Violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, and other disruptive behavior in the workplace will not be
tolerated. All reports of incidents will be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately.
Sec. 27.2. Reporting disruptive behavior. (a) An employee who witnesses conduct that is offensive
to public order shall report such disruptive behavior immediately to:
(1) The employee's immediate supervisor;
(2) The employee's next-higher-level supervisor; or
(3) The Speaker or the Speaker's designee.
(b) Conduct that is offensive to public order includes behavior that is perceived to be violent, threatening,
harassing, intimidating, or in any way disruptive to the workplace.
(c) All House members have and every supervisor has a duty to ensure that no employee who reports or
complains of any disruptive behavior is subject to any type of retaliation or reprisal.
(d) In an emergency situation, an employee shall report the disruptive behavior directly to Capitol
Security at 586-1352 or to the police at 911.
(e) Each employee who receives a protective or restraining order is required to provide the Chief Clerk's
Office with a copy of such order.
Sec. 27.3. Eliminating disruptive behavior. All reports of disruptive behavior shall be investigated
promptly and in a confidential manner. Supervisors who receive complaints about disruptive behavior
shall immediately report the complaint to the Speaker or to the Speaker's designee.
Upon notification of a complaint, the Speaker or the Speaker's designee shall immediately begin an
investigation. The House may use an independent investigator. The Speaker or the Speaker's designee
shall obtain a written summary of the guidelines for the investigation of the complaint from the
independent investigator engaged.
If a complaint is found to be valid, the Speaker or the Speaker's designee shall take appropriate
corrective action to discipline the offender and to prevent the recurrence of the disruptive behavior. The
type of disciplinary action taken will vary depending upon the severity of the conduct but shall be
significant enough to deter recurrence. Corrective actions may range from counseling and reprimand to
termination of employment. For House members, sanctions may include loss of committee assignments,
or other disciplinary action by the House, including expulsion. If the source of the disruptive behavior is a
member of the public, corrective action to be taken may include barring the person from the premises,
terminating business relationships with that individual, and/or prosecution of the person involved.