Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1437 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate unspecified sums to the Office of Elections to meet the five percent matching fund requirement of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Chief Election Officer, Office of Elections, the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and the ACLU.

Your Committee finds that the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 proposes to provide an estimated initial $5,000,000 to Hawaii to improve administration of elections and replace punch cards and lever machines. Hawaii could receive an estimated additional $15,000,000 to be used to meet requirements of law, train poll workers, provide voter education, and improve the administration of elections. In order for Hawaii to receive these federal funds, Hawaii must submit a self-certified detailed election improvement plan, and provide five percent of Hawaii's estimated share of the federal funds in matching funds.

Your Committee believes the federal Help America Vote Act is an excellent opportunity for the State to update its voting system and implement other voter reforms at a very reasonable State investment cost.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1437 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.