STAND. COM. REP. NO 3049

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1288

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1288, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ORDER OF SUCCESSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the order of succession to the Office of Lieutenant Governor.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Requires that when the Office of Lieutenant Governor is vacant by reason of the Lieutenant Governor's becoming Governor, failure to qualify, removal from office, death, resignation, or otherwise, the successor, whether the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, or a person appointed by the Governor who is qualified to hold the Office of Lieutenant Governor, shall be of the same political party as the Governor; and

     (2)  Repeals the authorization for the Attorney General, Director of Finance, Comptroller, Director of Taxation, and Director of Human Resources Development to succeed to the Office of Lieutenant Governor and instead authorizes these officers, in the order named, to temporarily exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor in the temporary absence or disablement of the Lieutenant Governor, including the powers and duties of the Office of Governor when that office is vacant or the Governor is absent or unable to exercise the powers and duties of the Office of Governor.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that this measure clarifies the order and requirements of succession to the Office of Lieutenant Governor under certain circumstances.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1288, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair