STAND. COM. REP. NO. 47-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1593

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1593 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Office of Elections to print and mail a physical copy of the digital voter information guide to any voter upon request.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections; Hawaii Young Republicans; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Federation of Republican Women.

Your Committee finds that Act 115, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, required the Office of Elections to prepare a digital voter information guide; post the guide on its website in compliance with certain accessibility standards and at all public libraries; and mail each ballot with a notice that states a voter information guide may be found on its website. Your Committee however notes that some voters may have technological, physical, or other limitations that prevent them from accessing the digital voter information guide, either online at the Office of Elections website or in person at public libraries. This measure will enable these individuals to request that a physical copy of the digital voter information guide be mailed to their address.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $552,000.

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 H.B. No. 1593, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1593, 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