Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Legislative Management, to which was referred H.B. No. 1739 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that each county is adequately represented on the Reapportionment Commission (Commission) by amending the State Constitution to require each county to have a representative on the Commission

Common Cause Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this measure. The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that it is important that residents on the Neighbor Islands are adequately represented on the Commission. However, during the hearing, concerns were raised regarding the composition of the county representatives on the Commission.

Although your Committee has not amended this bill, your Committee believes that your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs needs to further examine and clarify the ratio of county representatives on the Neighbor Islands to Honolulu county representatives appointed to the Commission. The question proposing the Constitutional amendment on the ballots will also need to be amended to clarify the composition of county representatives.

Another concern raised was how the proposed requirement regarding county representation on the Commission will impact the current appointment process of the Commissioners. The bill does not specify who among all those with appointive authority is to appoint the county representatives. Is it first come, first serve? It was suggested that Apportionment Advisory Councils may be better able to address the issue of county representation on the Commission. Nevertheless, this issue will also need to be addressed by your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Legislative Management that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1739 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.