STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1234

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 853

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 853, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the duties of the Elections Commission to include providing oversight of the Chief Election Officer.

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii and Common Cause Hawaii provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the Elections Commission conduct a performance evaluation of the Chief Election Officer every six months rather than after each election; and

     (2)  Removing the requirement that the Elections Commission submit a written report to the Legislature within 90 days of the certification of election results.

     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 S.B. No. 853, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 853, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair