STAND. COM. REP. NO.  621

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 716

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 716 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to revise various election deadlines in conformity with state law, which changed the date of the State's primary election in accordance with federal law.  Specifically, this measure revises election deadlines to ensure that absentee ballots are mailed out to uniformed and overseas voters no later than 45 days prior to elections for federal office as required by federal law.

     The Office of Elections and League of Women Voters of Hawaii testified in support of this measure. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to January 7, 2050, to promote 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. 716, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 716, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN, Chair