STAND. COM. REP. NO.  763

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 1481

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1481, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase equity in Hawaii's election system by, among other things, establishing a comprehensive system of public financing for elections to the State House of Representatives and the State Senate, beginning with the 2016 election.  This measure also excludes candidates for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Senator, and State Representative from access to the existing partial public financing program.

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Conservation Council for Hawaii; Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter; and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  A concerned individual opposed this measure.  The Campaign Spending Commission and Voter Owned Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Increasing from 30 to 350 the number of individuals whose signatures must be accompanied by a qualifying contribution that candidates must include in their application for certification when seeking public funding for election to the office of State Senator;

     (2)  Increasing from 15 to 250 the number of individuals whose signatures must be accompanied by a qualifying contribution that candidates must include in their application for certification when seeking public funding for election to the office of State Representative;

     (3)  Decreasing the qualifying contribution amount to $5 from $100; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1481, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1481, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair