STAND. COM. REP. NO. 830

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 197

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 S.B. No. 197 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 establish an exemption from the prohibition against using election campaign funds to make charitable donations to or award scholarships during the period from the filing of nomination papers to the date of the general election for candidates who are already declared elected to office after running unopposed in an election or who would be unopposed in the general election.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that campaign finance law already allows candidates to use campaign funds to make charitable donations and award scholarships with the restriction that a candidate cannot make donations or award scholarships between the date that the candidate files nomination papers to the date of the general election. Your Committee additionally finds that this restriction is not necessary in the case of candidates who are already declared elected to office after running unopposed in an election or who would be unopposed in the general election. This measure will allow charitable donations and the award of scholarships in these specific circumstances.

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 S.B. No. 197 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair