Report Title:

Campaign Spending; Public Funding

 

Description:

Amends the pilot project for comprehensive public funding of Hawaii county council elections by commencing the project in the general election year 2014.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

345

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to campaign spending.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Act 244, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending section 1 to read:

     "SECTION 1.  There is established a pilot project establishing a comprehensive public funding program for the county of Hawaii council elections.  The pilot project shall be for a period of three election cycles, beginning with the [2010] 2014 elections."

     2.  By amending section 3 to read:

     "SECTION 3.  Sufficiency of funding for comprehensive public funding.  On September 1 of each odd-numbered year before the general election years of [2010, 2012, and] 2014, 2016, and 2018, the commission shall determine whether there is a minimum of $3,500,000 in the Hawaii election campaign fund established under section 11-217, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to certify participating candidates during the next election and provide funding for comprehensive public funding for elections under this part.

     If the commission determines that there is sufficient funding, then within five business days, the commission shall publish notice statewide, pursuant to section 1-28.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that the comprehensive public funding program shall become effective on January 1 of the following year.  If there is insufficient funding, then this part shall be inoperative.

     If this part is inoperative, candidates may seek public funding as provided under subpart B of part XII of chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes."

     3.  By amending section 19, subsections (a) and (b), to read:

     "(a)  This part shall be a pilot project limited to the elections of [2010, 2012, and] 2014, 2016, and 2018 for the county of Hawaii county council elections only.

     (b)  No candidate who is certified for comprehensive public funding under this part in any of the elections of [2010, 2012, and] 2014, 2016, and 2018 shall become eligible for partial public funding in the election for which the candidate qualifies for comprehensive public funding; provided that comprehensive public funding as provided for in this part is practicable according to the terms of Section 3."

     4.  By amending section 37 to read:

     "SECTION 37.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that part I shall take effect on July 1, 2008, and shall be applicable beginning with the general election year of [2010.] 2014.  This part and part II shall take effect upon their approval."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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