STAND. COM. REP. 2611

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 3030

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3030 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN SPENDING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend campaign-spending laws to conform to recent court rulings and federal regulations, and to clarify registration provisions, spending and contribution provisions, and penalties for egregious violations.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Campaign Spending Commission (commission) and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that in light of recent developments regarding campaign spending, there is a need to conform current laws with recent court rulings and federal regulations. Your Committee finds that further clarification is needed for registration provisions, campaign spending and contribution provisions, and penalties for egregious violations. Thus, your Committee believes that this measure is necessary to address all of these needs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Allowing the use of campaign funds for any ordinary and necessary expenses, which was repealed in the original measure;

(2) Providing requirements for those people who receive contributions but do not run;

(3) Allowing the commission to communicate directly with the Governor and Legislature, make personnel decisions, and purchase office equipment; and

(4) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2005.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3030, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3030, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair