STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2747

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2040

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2040 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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; 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 and one individual.

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 requiring these candidates to file preliminary reports between the primary and general elections is unnecessary.

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 S.B. No. 2040 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair