Report Title:

Office of Elections; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the election commission to properly carry out its duties and responsibilities (HB1135 HD1).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1135
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1.  The legislature created the election commission through Act 57, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004.  The duties of the commission are to:

     (1)  Hold public hearings;

     (2)  Investigate and hold hearings for receiving evidence of violations and complaints;

     (3)  Adopt rules;

     (4)  Employ a full-time chief election officer; and

     (5)  Advise the chief election officer on matters relating to elections.

     Although the commission includes six neighbor island members, there is no budget to allow for the convening of the commission.  Presently, the office of elections expends funds from its budget to meet these requirements.

The purpose of this Act is to provide funds for the election commission to properly carry out its duties and responsibilities.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $31,679 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to allow the election commission to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of elections for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.