STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2334

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2581
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No.
2581 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE ELECTIONS
     APPOINTMENT AND REVIEW PANEL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to make an appropriation for the
Elections Appointment and Review Panel.

     Your Committee finds that the Elections Appointment and
Review Panel was given significant additional duties by Act 141,
Session Laws of Hawaii 1999, but was not given any additional
funding to carry out these duties.  Specifically, the Panel is
now required to establish performance standards for the operation
of elections and the chief election officer; to review the
operation of elections and performance of the chief election
officer under those standards and conduct biennial evaluations;
to make recommendations to the chief election officer and the
legislature based on those evaluations; and to establish policies
for administration of an election observer program.  Previously,
the Panel was only responsible for selecting and appointing the
chief election officer.

     Your Committee notes that the Panel members serve without
pay, and have very limited staff.  Your Committee believes that
the Panel should receive the additional funding it needs to carry
out its increased responsibilities.  However, your Committee does
have concerns about the Panel's plan to spend $5,000 on

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2334
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unspecified public relations.  Your Committee believes that the
funds should be spent in an appropriate way to carry out the
additional duties of the Panel, and for this reason your
Committee has requested further details from the Panel as to why
it requires $5,000 for public relations.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the
Elections Appointment and Review Panel and by the Attorney
General.

     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.
2581 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   AVERY B. CHUMBLEY, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   MATTHEW M. MATSUNAGA, Co-Chair

 
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