STAND. COM. REP. NO.  810

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1581

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1581 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to promote electoral transparency and accountability by requiring candidates for President and Vice President of the United States (U.S.) to publicly disclose no later than 50 days before a general election, their federal income tax returns for the five most recent taxable years that a return has been filed.

 

     Common Cause Hawaii and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and League of Women Voters of Hawaii provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Making the requirement to release tax returns also apply with respect to Presidential electors under section 14-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

 

(2)  Adding a severability clause;

 

(3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

 

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1581, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1581, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair