STAND. COM. REP. NO. 571-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1427

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Reform, 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 laws are important to maintain transparency and fairness in elections. However, candidates who are either unsuccessful or who have been elected to office in a primary election will not appear on the ballot in the general election. Therefore, your Committee finds that filing these preliminary reports between the primary and general elections is unnecessary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Reform that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1427 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Reform,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair