STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3062

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2989

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2989, S.D. 1, 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 include an elective office candidate's child care costs among the expenses for which the candidate, candidate's treasurer, or candidate committee may use campaign funds.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Pono Hawaii Initiative, Common Cause Hawaii, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that authorizing candidates to use campaign funds to pay for the significant costs of child care will help candidates overcome a restrictive financial barrier and encourage more female and low-income candidates to run for elective office.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that qualifying child care costs are limited to costs for child care services incurred from January 1 of an election year to the day after the date of the primary or general election in which a candidate appears on the ballot;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2989, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2989, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair