THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1058
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 11-118.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§11-118.5[]] Constitutional amendments, proposed[.]; attorney general statement. (a) Any constitutional amendment proposed by the legislature shall include in final form the exact constitutional ratification question to be printed on a ballot. The constitutional ratification question shall be phrased in a manner to enable voters to express their choice on the constitutional amendment by providing a "yes" or "no" response. The language and meaning of a constitutional amendment shall be clear and it shall be neither misleading nor deceptive.

(b) The attorney general shall prepare a statement in English and Hawaiian for each proposed constitutional amendment in language that is clear and neither misleading nor deceptive that indicates the purpose, limitations, and effects of the proposed amendment. The attorney general shall distribute each statement to the state office of elections and all county clerks for further distribution. The office of elections and county clerks shall make each statement available to the public at all physical locations or online sites where they make proposed constitutional amendment questions available to the public."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $10,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the translation, preparation, and distribution of statements for proposed constitutional amendments.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

Report Title:

Attorney General; Statement for Proposed Constitutional Amendments; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the attorney general to prepare a statement for each proposed constitutional amendment in language that is clear and neither misleading nor deceptive that indicates the purpose, limitations, and effects of the proposed amendment. Requires the attorney general to also prepare the statement in Hawaiian. Requires the office of elections and county clerks to make the statement available to the public. Makes an appropriation. (SD1)

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