STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1551

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 577, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to replenish and establish consistent funding for the Campaign Spending Commission (Commission) by requiring that:

(1)  The fines assessed by the Commission be deposited into the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund (Fund); and

(2)  The Commission's operating expenses be paid from the general fund instead of the Fund.

The Campaign Spending Commission, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, Open Law Alliance, and several concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Accounting and General Services opposed this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 577, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair