CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 46-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 665

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 665, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VIOLATIONS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Make intentionally providing false information concerning the name or address of a person paying for a campaign advertisement a class C felony;

(2) Authorize criminal prosecution for campaign finance law violations in addition to administrative fines;

(3) Increase the period during which a person convicted for a criminal violation of campaign finance law is disqualified from holding elective office; and

(4) Authorize the Attorney General or Prosecuting Attorney to commence prosecution of campaign finance law violations.

Your Committee on Conference finds that campaign advertisements that contain false information regarding who is paying for the advertisement impairs public transparency in the electoral process. This measure promotes greater accountability within the election system by increasing the penalties for, and removing barriers to criminal prosecution of campaign finance law violations.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 665, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 665, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair
____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair