Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 401 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to limit grounds for removal of the Chief Elections Officer to "good" cause rather than allowing removal for "any" cause.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.

This measure underscores the importance of making employment decisions relating to the Chief Elections Officer that are free from partisan, personal, or other inappropriate motives.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive change for clarity and style.

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 H.B. No. 401, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 401, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.