CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 108

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 405

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 405, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Provide that excess contributions by nonresident contributors shall escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund if not returned to the contributor within thirty days of the end of the election period; and

(2) Allow the candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate committee to choose which excess contributions by nonresident contributors to return.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund was established to be used for partial public financing of campaigns of the State and its political subdivisions, but that demand for financing often outstrips available resources. Providing that excess contributions by nonresident contributors shall escheat to the fund if not returned to the contributor within thirty days compliments existing law and will help ensure adequate funding for the partial public financing program. This measure will provide an additional source of income for the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund and allow candidates to more readily use available public financing through the Fund.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 405, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 405, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair
____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair
____________________________ TINA WILDBERGER Co-Chair