STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1601

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 381

      S.D. 2

      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 S.B. No. 381, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC FUNDING FOR ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the Pilot Comprehensive Public Funding Program for Elections to the Hawaii County Council (Program) established under Act 244, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, by:

     (1)  Limiting the number of candidates eligible to receive comprehensive public funding under the Program to 15 candidates per election period;

     (2)  Changing the Program's funding formula to the average amount of money spent by winning candidates in the last two county election cycles in every district; and

     (3)  Appropriating an unspecified amount out of the general revenues to the Campaign Spending Commission for fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 for the certification of participating election candidates and funding for comprehensive public funding of elections.

Two Councilmembers of the Hawaii County Council and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Campaign Spending Commission and a concerned individual offered comments on the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 381, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 381, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair