STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1222

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 577

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 577, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist the Campaign Spending Commission's (Commission) revenue stream by:

     (1)  Requiring the deposit of any fees that are assessed by the Commission into the Hawaii Election Campaign fund (Fund);

     (2)  Authorizing the Commission to use moneys from the Fund for investigation expenses and repealing the allocation of Fund monies to the Commission's personnel and operating expenses; and

     (3)  Requiring the Commission to conduct a study on the sustainability of its operations and finances.  

The Department of Accounting and General Services and several concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Campaign Spending Commission; The League of Women Voters Hawaii; Common Cause Hawaii; and a concerned individual submitted testimony in opposition of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the operating expenses, which include staff salaries and fringe benefits, of the Commission be paid for through the general fund;

     (2)  Removing the provision that allowed for the Commission to use Hawaii Election Campaign fund moneys for investigation expenses;

     (3)  Appropriating an unspecified amount from the general fund to the Commission for administrative expenses, including investigation expenses;

     (4)  Removing the study tasked to the Commission; and

     (5)  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. 577, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 577, 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