THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	408
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN SPENDING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that candidates for elected office, including incumbents, sometimes promote their candidacies by attending events held by nonprofit organizations. The candidates are often invited to speak or appear before attendees, increasing the visibility of the candidates and their campaigns among voters and contributors. Candidates may also mingle among attendees to solicit votes or to discuss their experiences as incumbents.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to authorize any candidate committee, under certain circumstances, to expend campaign funds to purchase a ticket for a candidate to attend an event held by a nonprofit organization.

SECTION 2. Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part XIII, subpart G, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§11- Candidate appearances; nonprofit organizations; events; tickets. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a candidate committee may expend campaign funds to purchase a ticket for the committee's candidate to attend any event hosted by a nonprofit organization, regardless of whether the event occurs during an election year; provided that at the event, the candidate attempts to:

(1) Promote or solicit funds for the candidate's election campaign; or

(2) Communicate to attendees about matters related to the office the candidate holds as an incumbent."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Elections; Candidates; Expenditures; Nonprofits; Tickets

Description:

Authorizes any candidate committee, under certain circumstances, to expend campaign funds to purchase a ticket for a candidate to attend a nonprofit organization's event.

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