STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1550

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 16

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.R. No. 16 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW HAWAII'S CURRENT VOTER EDUCATION SYSTEM AND PROPOSE IMPROVEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Request the Legislative Reference Bureau to establish a task force to review Hawaii's current voter education system and propose improvements; and

(2) Request that the task force submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and Common Cause Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board.

Your Committee finds that the lack of balanced, politically nonpartisan, and readily available voter education is a significant factor that contributes to poor citizen engagement. Your Committee further finds that an appropriate voter education program should also accommodate bilingual voters, disabled voters, and voters who are voting for the first time. This measure requests that the Legislative Reference Bureau establish a task force to review voter education in the State and propose improvements.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 16 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair