STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1354

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 728

S.D. 1

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 Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 728, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the maximum amount of public funds available to each candidate running for the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and

(2) Increase the threshold amount each Board of Trustee candidate must raise to qualify for public funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Democratic Party of Hawaii, and an individual. Your Committee received testimony with comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Campaign Spending Commission.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the threshold amount each Board of Trustee candidate must raise to qualify for public funds from $5,000 to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 728, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 728, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair