STAND. COM. REP. NO. 940

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 712

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 712 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote electoral transparency and accountability by requiring that candidates for President or Vice President of the United States, Governor or Lieutenant Governor of the State, and Mayor of a County in the State disclose their federal income tax returns from the five most recent taxable years in order for their names to appear on a general election ballot. This measure also prohibits Electoral College electors from voting for candidates for President or Vice President if those candidates have not disclosed their federal income tax returns.

The LGBT Caucus and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i testified in support of this measure. Two individuals testified in opposition to this measure. The Department of Taxation, Office of Elections, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring candidates to submit their federal income tax returns and provide written consent for the public disclosure of the returns no later than 60 days before a general election, rather than 50 days, to coincide with the deadline for qualified political parties to submit candidates for President and Vice President;

(2) Requiring the Chief Election Officer to redact all personal identifying numbers such as social security numbers and federal employer identification numbers, whether belonging to the taxpayer, a payor or payee, or any other entity, prior to placing any federal income tax return on the Office of Election's website; and

(3) 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 H.B. No. 712, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 712, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair