STAND. COM. REP. NO. 732

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 165
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which
was referred H.B. No. 165 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to:  

     (1)  Include within the definition of "contribution" for
          election campaign purposes:

          (A)  Gifts to committees for political purposes; and

          (B)  The payment by a political party or other entity
               of compensation for services rendered at no charge
               or at an unreasonably low charge for political
               purposes;

     (2)  Subject political parties to the same campaign
          contribution limits applicable to persons and other
          entities; and

     (3)  Reduce the maximum amount of contributions that may be
          made to a political party.

     Testimony was received from the Campaign Spending
Commission, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Republican Party of
Hawaii, Hawaii Clean Elections, and Common Cause Hawaii.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 732
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee finds that thoughtful campaign spending laws
are vital to reduce abuses and preserve the integrity of public
elections.  This bill will prevent the use of a political party
to circumvent contribution limits of individuals or other
entities to candidates for elective office.

     Your Committee has amended this bill to delete provisions
reducing the maximum amount of contributions that may be made to
a political party.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 165, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
165, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   PAUL T. OSHIRO, Chair