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 S.B. No. 1061 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit lobbyists who lobby the legislature, the principal, client, or agent of such a lobbyist, and a political action committee on which the lobbyist sits from making a contribution to a member of the legislature, the governor, and lieutenant governor while the legislature is in session.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, the League of Women Voters, and Life of the Land.

Your Committee finds that this measure will increase public confidence in the legislature and the state government by decreasing the appearance of "quid pro quo" arrangements between lobbyists and legislators. This will enhance public trust in government and help eliminate actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

Your Committee further finds that this measure should withstand constitutional challenges for free speech and equal protection because the limitation in this measure is only during the legislative session and is not a complete ban, but rather a proper limitation.

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. 1061 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.