CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 113-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2016

RE:    S.B. No. 2812

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2812, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHARITABLE SOLICITATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to amend Hawaii's charitable registration and solicitation law, including:

     (1)  Requiring affirmative disclosures to donors by professional solicitors;

     (2)  Clarifying registration requirements and exemptions from registration;

     (3)  Providing for electronic submission of certain forms and financial reports;

     (4)  Authorizing the Attorney General to issue cease and desist orders and impose administrative fines;

     (5)  Clarifying certain reporting requirements for charitable organizations; and

     (6)  Making other technical amendments.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that this measure makes various amendments to Hawaii's charitable registration and solicitation law, including requiring an affirmative disclosure in the course of solicitation, which will require professional solicitors to be more transparent and will prevent donor confusion and deceptive practices.  This measure also provides for electronic submission of certain financial reports that professional solicitors are required to submit to the Attorney General and makes other amendments that simplify the filing process for charitable organizations.  Your Committee on Conference further finds that this measure improves and clarifies Hawaii's charitable registration and solicitation law in a manner that better reflects the realities of the nonprofit fundraising environment, promotes transparency for donors, and encourages ease of compliance for charitable nonprofits.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing its effective date to upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2812, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2812, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

_________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Co-Chair	___________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair
_________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Co-Chair	___________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Co-Chair
_________________________________ SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Co-Chair	___________________________________ BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA, Co-Chair