STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1132

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 389

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 389, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to prohibit a candidate for public office from appearing in public service announcements paid for with state or public funds from the time of filing nomination papers until the time the person is no longer a candidate, unless the appearance is in response to an emergency or is part of the candidate's official duties.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.  The Campaign Spending Commission commented on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will promote fairness in the election process. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the phrase "paid for with state or public funds" to "paid for with state, county or federal funds";

(2)  Expanding the exception for public service announcements "in response to" disasters or emergencies to include announcements "in anticipation of" those events;

(3)  Expanding the exception for appearances in broadcasts of "official state or county proceedings" to include official federal proceedings; and

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 389, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 389, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair