STAND. COM. REP. NO.  981-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2629

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2629, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOBBYISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide greater transparency in lobbying activities by requiring persons who engage in lobbying during any special session to file a statement of expenditures with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission within 30 days after adjournment sine die of the special session.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission, Common Cause Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to take effect upon approval; 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 S.B. No. 2629, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2629, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair