Report Title:

Campaign Spending; Public Funding

Description:

Increases the limit of public funds disbursed under the pilot comprehensive public funding for elections to the Hawaii county council project.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	674
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to campaign spending.

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

     SECTION 1.  Act 244, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, section 12, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The commission shall not distribute comprehensive public funding to certified candidates that exceeds the total amount of [$300,000] $760,000 for all candidates subject to this part in any given election year in which this part is operative.

     (b)  Beginning January 1 of a general election year and ending with the deadline to submit applications for certification, the commission shall post on its website a monthly report stating, by district:

     (1)  The number of declarations of intent to seek comprehensive public funding received;

     (2)  The number of applications for certification received;

     (3)  The number of candidates who have been certified for comprehensive public funding;

     (4)  The amount of public funding committed to certified candidates; and

     (5)  The amount of public funding available for additional certified candidates.

     Notwithstanding any other provisions in this part, if the commission determines that the revenues are insufficient to meet distributions to certified candidates under this section or [$300,000] $760,000 is distributed, the commission shall permit certified candidates to accept and spend contributions, subject to the campaign contribution limitations set forth in section 11-204, Hawaii Revised Statutes, up to the applicable amounts, including equalizing funds the certified candidate would have received from comprehensive public funding."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009, and shall be applicable beginning with the general election year of 2010.

INTRODUCED BY:

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