STAND. COM. REP. NO. 586-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1634

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1634 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to impose upon both candidate and noncandidate committees consistent content, filing, and deadline requirements for organizational and preliminary reports.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Common Cause Hawaii and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission.

Your Committee finds that the time period for candidate committees to file organizational reports should coincide with the filing dates for preliminary reports. Your Committee further finds that clarification is needed regarding which candidate and noncandidate committee preliminary reports may be subject to an increased fine for failure to file the report.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Reducing the time period for a candidate committee to file an organizational report from ten days to two days;

(2) Reducing the time period for a noncandidate committee to file an organizational report from ten days to two days, when receiving contributions or making or incurring expenditures of more than $1,000;

(3) Clarifying that only candidate and noncandidate committee preliminary reports due ten days before a primary, general, or special election may be subject to the increased late‑filing fine;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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. 1634, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1634, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair