STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1386

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1076

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1076, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Office of Elections to:

(A) Prepare a digital voter information guide;

(B) Post the guide on its website in compliance with certain accessibility standards; and

(C) Mail each ballot with a notice that states a voter information guide may be found on its website; and

(2) Require the Attorney General and county corporation counsels to translate explanations of ballot questions into certain languages for purposes of the digital voter information guide.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct, Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Elections.

Your Committee finds that providing a digital voter information guide to registered voters of the State will create a more informed voting public and increase voter participation in elections.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $171,248.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1076, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1076, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair