STAND. COM. REP. NO. 687

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1220

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1220 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit persons convicted of certain felony offenses against public administration from becoming a candidate for or holding public office for twenty years after the person's final discharge.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the enhancement of criminal penalties for offenses involving public corruption is the most effective deterrence. Individuals who commit certain felonies may be perceived as being dishonest or unfit to hold public office. This measure will ensure the ethical integrity of public officials by preventing them from holding office for a sufficient duration after the person's final discharge from certain felony convictions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the twenty-year penalty from holding public office for certain felony offenses to a ten-year penalty.

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. 1220, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1220, S.D. 1, 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