STAND. COM. REP. NO. 776

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 619

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 619, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow an incarcerated person, who was a Hawaii resident at the time of the person's arrest, to vote by absentee ballot in Hawaii elections.

Your Committee finds that allowing an incarcerated person, who was a Hawaii resident at the time of the person's arrest, to vote by absentee ballot in Hawaii elections will help the incarcerated person achieve a more successful reentry into society and become a participating member of the community upon release.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing Section 1 in its entirety;

     (2)  Allowing incarcerated persons to vote only within two years prior to their discharge from confinement;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to continue the discussions on this matter; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantative amendments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 619, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 619, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair