HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2613
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that campaign finance laws are often complex and require campaigns to spend exorbitant amounts of campaign funds to hire professionals to comply with those statutes and rules. The legislature further finds that existing campaign finance provisions often impose penalties that are disproportionately high and arbitrary for the alleged violations committed. The legislature believes that the aforementioned factors create barriers that discourage ordinary citizens from running for elective offices. The legislature also finds that as voting methods are changing due to the predominance of mail-in voting, campaign finance laws should be reevaluated to determine how to accommodate these changes.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the campaign spending commission to conduct a study to determine which campaign finance laws should be amended to make the campaign process more accessible to everyday citizens.

SECTION 2. (a) The campaign spending commission shall conduct a study of provisions within the Hawaii Revised Statutes and the Hawaii Administrative Rules relating to campaign finance.

(b) In the course of conducting the study, the commission shall:

(1) Consider the effects of each provision and any unnecessary barriers that may be imposed by each provision;

(2) Consider whether existing penalties should be reduced;

(3) Evaluate the propriety of existing limits on contributions;

(4) Evaluate the propriety of existing provisions regarding late contributions;

(5) Consider what reforms are appropriate as voting methods change and mail-in voting becomes predominant;

(6) Consider whether different reporting requirements should apply to statewide races and non-statewide races; and

(7) Consider any other campaign finance reforms necessary to make the campaign process less burdensome upon candidates; provided that any proposed reforms shall maintain or improve the integrity of existing finance laws.

(b) Before submitting the report required in subsection (c), the campaign spending commission shall conduct public hearings regarding any findings and recommendations that the commission is considering as a result of the study.

(c) The campaign spending commission shall report the findings of its study and any recommendations no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2021 regular session.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Campaign Spending Commission; Statutes; Rules; Study; Report

Description:

Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to conduct a study of provisions within the Hawaii Revised Statutes and the Hawaii Administrative Rules relating to campaign finance. Requires public hearings on findings and recommendations developed from the study. Requires a report to the Legislature.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.