STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1915

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 627

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 627, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to impose certain requirements relating to independent expenditures in elections.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires a person making independent expenditures to influence an election, to:

(A) Make a report that identifies the candidate or candidates that the person is supporting or opposing, if the independent expenditure advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate; or

(B) Indicate that the expenditure is for issue advertising;

(2) Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to publish on its website independent expenditure information for each candidate; and

(3) Imposes penalties on persons who make false statements on certain disclosures relating to independent expenditures.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committee finds that transparency in elections, including transparency regarding independent expenditures to influence elections, is necessary to ensure fairness in elections.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 627, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair