STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1112

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 381

      S.D. 2

      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. 381, S.D. 2, 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 twenty-five candidates per election period; and

     (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.   

The League of Women Voters of Hawaii and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Campaign Spending Commission provided comments.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Reducing the number of candidates eligible to receive comprehensive public funding under the Program to fifteen;

     (2)  Appropriating an unspecified amount to fund the Program; and

     (3)  Making the measure effective upon approval.

     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. 381, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 381, S.D. 2, 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