STAND. COM. REP. NO.734

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 440

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 440 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to transfer the functions of the Chief Election Officer back to the Lieutenant Governor.

Prior to 1995, the Lieutenant Governor also served as the Chief Election Officer for the State. In 1995, an Office of Elections was established and those duties were transferred to the head of that office. The Auditor released a report in 1999 requesting review of this placement, noting that no one maintains oversight of the Chief Election Officer. It is the intent of this bill to recreate that oversight and responsibility by returning that function to the Lieutenant Governor. Your Committee finds that such oversight is an important and needed component of the electoral process.

The bill recognizes that the Office of the Lieutenant Governor is itself an elected position, and provides that if an objection is made to any candidate for that office, that the incumbent Lieutenant Governor shall be excused and the Attorney General shall perform the functions of the Office. Your Committee finds that this will provide an adequate safeguard for the integrity of the process.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 440 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair