Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2540, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to increase volunteer precinct official stipends.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections, the Office of the County Clerk for the County of Maui, the Office of the City Clerk for the City and County of Honolulu, the Office of the County Clerk for the County of Kauai, the Association of Clerks and Election Officers of Hawaii, and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that in order to encourage participation, an appropriation should be made to increase volunteer precinct official stipends. Your Committee further clarifies that precinct officials are volunteers and the stipend they receive is not to be considered a salary but is to reimburse volunteer precinct officials for their out-of-pocket expenses.

Your Committee has amended this measure to include an appropriation of $96,542 in accordance with the testimony provided by the State of Hawaii Office of Elections.

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 H.B. No. 2540, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2540, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.