Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 902 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit campaign activities at Washington Place.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the State Ethics Commission, League of Women Voters, Common Cause Hawaii, and Advocates for Consumer Rights.

Your Committee finds that Washington Place is not only beautiful and uniquely historical, but a government building bound to the same laws that regulate all other government buildings. Although some accommodations may be made in light of the fact that it is the Governor's residence, it is as the Governor of all of the citizens of Hawaii (not as the leader of a single political party), that the Governor and his family are allowed to reside there. Activities of a partisan nature are inappropriate at Washington Place. Such functions may also violate section 84-13, Hawaii Revised Statutes, prohibiting a state officer or employee from using his or her official position to grant unwarranted privileges or advantages to themselves or others.

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. 902 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.