STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2485

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2579

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2579 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to clarify who is subject to administrative fines for violations relating to campaign contributions and expenditures and the nature of those violations.

     This measure also defines a "natural person" and provides for deposit of collected fines into the general fund.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  The Campaign Spending Commission and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii submitted testimony opposing certain parts of the measure.  One individual submitted testimony in opposition.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Deleting provisions that clarify who is subject to administrative fines for violations relating to campaign contributions and expenditures; and

(2)  Adding a new section relating to penalties for failure to file a report, with the penalties to be deposited into the general fund rather than the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund.

     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 S.B. No. 2579, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2579, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair