STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1283

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 709

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 Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 709, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose an amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution to allow a recount of votes cast at an election to be conducted in a manner to be provided by law.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Honolulu County Republican Party, Common Cause Hawaii, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that accurate counts of votes cast in elections are vital to the democratic process. Your Committee further finds that under existing law, the only way to initiate a recount in the State is via a complaint filed with the Hawaii Supreme Court. This measure proposes an amendment to the constitution that will explicitly grant the Legislature the authority to provide for recounts of votes cast in election by law.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that recounts of votes cast at an election may be conducted as provided by the Legislature.

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 H.B. No. 709, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 709, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair