STAND. COM. REP. NO. 946-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1427

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1427 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REPORTS FILED WITH THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Exempt candidates who are either unsuccessful or elected to office in a primary election from the requirement to file preliminary general reports for the following general election; and

(2) Clarify the aggregate contribution and expenditure amounts that trigger the requirement for a candidate or noncandidate committee to file only the final election period report.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission.

Your Committee finds that reporting requirements under campaign finance law are necessary to maintain transparency and fairness in the election process. Your Committee further finds that preliminary reports are due throughout the spring, summer, and fall in an election year. However, the final two preliminary reports are due between the primary election and subsequent general election. Your Committee therefore finds that it is unnecessary to require candidates who are either unsuccessful or who have been elected to office in a primary election to file preliminary reports between the primary and general election.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1427, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1427, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair