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. 690, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all candidates for the State Senate and the State House of Representatives to file electronic campaign financing reports, and to strengthen administrative and criminal penalties for candidates and committees that show a significant pattern of abuse and violation of campaign spending laws.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission, Hawaii Pro-Democracy Initiative, and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that disclosure of campaign finances to the electorate is enhanced considerably when financial disclosures are electronically transmitted directly through the Internet. The federal government and many states are moving towards this trend by requiring candidates to file reports electronically.

Your Committee further finds that in 2002, one hundred seventeen candidates filed their campaign disclosure reports with the Campaign Spending Commission electronically. Your Committee notes that the bill provides an exception for candidates lacking reasonable access to an Internet-ready computer. Your Committee further notes that it is not the Commission's intent to strictly enforce the electronic filing requirement. The Commission understands computer literacy may be a barrier to this requirement and is willing to provide assistance and technical support to candidates, as well as work to make the program more user friendly.

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. 690, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.