Report Title:

Elections; Fundraisers or Fundraising Activity

Description:

Prohibits state legislators from conducting a fundraiser or fundraising activity during regular sessions of the legislature.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	794
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the prohibition of FUNDRAISERS OR fundraising ACTIVITY WHILE THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the public perception that lawmaking is influenced by a legislator's campaign fundraising should be addressed and eliminated.  During the legislative session, many individuals, businesses, and other groups seek favorable action from legislators on measures introduced and heard throughout the session.  When legislators solicit campaign donations from similar stakeholders while legislation is pending, the public has reason to mistrust the lawmaking process.  As a result, the public becomes leery that legislative votes are affected by fundraising activity.  Even with pure motives, public perception of the legislature is lowered, along with public trust and confidence in elected leaders.

     In the past, bills to scrutinize legislative fundraisers during the session have been introduced.  For example, in 2003, a bill requiring public disclosure of fundraising events while the legislature is in session passed the senate, but failed in the house of representatives. 

     The legislature believes that banning fundraisers during regular sessions of the legislature will reduce public suspicion and result in increased public trust and confidence in our elected leaders.

     The purpose of this Act is to prohibit fundraising activity during regular sessions of the legislature.

     SECTION 2.  Section 11-203, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§11-203 Fundraisers and fundraising activities.  (a)  As used in this section, "fundraiser" means any function held for the benefit of a person that is intended or designed, directly or indirectly, to raise funds for political purposes for which the price or suggested contribution for attending the function is more than $25 per person.

     (b)  There shall be no more than two fundraisers held for a person prior to a general or special election in which that person is either elected or defeated.

     (c)  No fundraiser or fundraising activity shall be held unless a notice of intent to hold the function is filed by the person in charge of the function with the commission prior to the date of the function setting forth the name and address of the person in charge, the price per person, the date, hour, and place of the affair and the method thereof.

     (d)  Fundraisers sponsored by a candidate for a statewide office are exempt from the $25 limit of subsection (a) and the restrictions of subsection (b), and fundraisers sponsored by a party for a political purpose for the general benefit of the party are exempt from the restrictions of subsection (b).

(e)  No fundraiser or fundraising activity shall be held by any state legislator during the period in which the legislature is in regular session."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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