Previously, bribery*, which is classified as a class B felony, was generally subject to a three-year statute of limitations. Where the offense involved misconduct in public office, the limitation period could be extended, but not beyond six years from the date of the offense.

The Act amends §710-1040 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes by providing that a prosecution for bribery must be commenced within nine years after the offense was committed, notwithstanding the generally applicable limitation periods.

Lawmakers explained the need for the amendments by referring to the particularities of corruption investigations conducted at both the federal and state levels. Federal proceedings may continue beyond the limitation period established under Hawaii law, making prosecution under state law impossible once the federal case has concluded. The new limitation period is intended to give law enforcement authorities more time to investigate such cases and bring charges.

*Under Hawaii law, bribery covers both the conferring, offering, or agreeing to confer a pecuniary benefit upon a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other official action, and the solicitation, acceptance, or agreement to accept such a benefit by a public servant.