STAND. COM. REP. NO.  675-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2602

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2602 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN SPENDING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide for more flexibility in campaign spending and donations by:

     (1)  Increasing the threshold amount that must be reported in non-candidate committee organizational reports; and

     (2)  Doubling the amount a candidate can contribute from surplus campaign funds to a community or charitable organization.

     The Hawaii Association of Public Accountants – PAC and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Campaign Spending Commission and The League of Women Voters of Hawaii opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2602, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2602, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

TOMMY WATERS, Chair