STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2970

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 555

S.D. 1

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. 555 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require a notice of intent for all campaign fundraisers held by incumbent legislators or candidates for legislative office during a Regular or Special Session of the Legislature regardless of price or suggested contribution amount.

Prior to decision making on this measure, your Committee made available for public review a proposed S.D. 1 of this measure, which deletes the contents of the measure and inserts language to prohibit legislators and employees and persons acting on behalf of legislators from holding any fundraiser during a regular legislative session or special session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission; Pono Hawai‘i Initiative; Common Cause Hawaii; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Community Alliance on Prisons; Hawaii Advocates for Consumer Rights; Hawaii Family Advocacy Team; When We Shine Foundation; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; FREE ACCESS COALITION; We Are One, Inc.; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Kokua Council; and eighty-six individuals.

Your Committee finds that there are concerns of growing apathy and lack of participation in the government process due partially to the lack of faith and trust in the government. This measure will ban fundraisers during legislative sessions, which will help to restore trust in the state legislative process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed S.D. 1.

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. 555, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 555, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair