STAND. COM. REP. NO. 56

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 403

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 403 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 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.

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 law are important to maintain transparency and fairness in elections. Your Committee further finds that preliminary reports are due throughout the spring, summer, and fall in the year of an election, and that the final two preliminary reports are due between the primary election and the subsequent general election. Your Committee additionally finds that requiring 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 is wasteful and 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. 403 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