STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2160

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2145

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2145 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VACANCIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the deadlines for filing nomination papers, nominations, and notification to the chief election officer with respect to a vacancy in the State Senate.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hoomana Pono, LLC.

 

     Your Committee finds that the change of date in the primary election that occurred in 2010 resulted in a situation in which candidates for office would not be able to withdraw their nomination and instead file a nomination paper to fill a vacancy in the State Senate if such a vacancy occurs after the close of candidate filing.  This measure will allow candidates for office in such situations timely notice to consider or withdraw nomination papers and file a nomination paper for the Senate vacancy should they choose to do so.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2035, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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 S.B. No. 2145, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2145, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair