STAND. COM. REP. NO. 488-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1984
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which
was referred H.B. No. 1984 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to amend Hawaii's election laws
by:

     (1)  Decreasing the maximum amount of public funding
          available to the governor, lieutenant governor, or
          mayor candidates from 20 to 10 percent of the total
          expenditure limit for each election;

     (2)  Decreasing the maximum amount of public funds available
          to state senator, state representative, county council
          member, and prosecuting attorney candidates in an
          election year from 30 percent to 15 percent of the
          total expenditure limit for each election;

     (3)  Removing the requirement that the total amount of
          public funds for a primary, special primary, or general
          election for which a candidate is entitled to receive
          under section 11-221, Hawaii Revised Statutes, not
          exceed 50 percent of the maximum amount of public funds
          available for the candidate's office;


 
 
 
 
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     (4)  Requiring candidates to submit in their organizational
          report to the Campaign Spending Commission all web
          pages and e-mail addresses of the candidate;

     (5)  Providing that candidates who withdraw or cease to be
          candidates, committees directly associated with
          candidates, individuals who receive contributions but
          fail to file for nomination, or committees or parties
          that discontinue their activities, return all residual
          private contributions to the donors of the
          contributions within four years;

     (6)  Providing that upon the death of a candidate, residual
          contributions will escheat to the Hawaii Election
          Campaign Fund;

     (7)  Deleting the organizational reporting requirement for
          contributions for a ballot issue or question;

     (8)  Increasing the time for filing the organizational
          report from five to ten days; and 

     (9)  Making other technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     Common Cause Hawaii testified in support of the measure.
The League of Women Voters of Hawaii supported the bill with
reservations.  The Campaign Spending Commission commented on the
measure.

     Your Committee is concerned that the proposed amendment
which requires candidates to provide e-mail addresses and web
pages regardless of whether those e-mail addresses or web pages
are used for campaign purposes may constitute an unnecessary
invasion of privacy.  Candidates may have for private or business
purposes related e-mail address or web pages that have nothing to
do with their bid for public office.  Further, your Committee is
not prepared at this time to require candidates to be computer-
literate to participate in the election process.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by deleting the
requirement that candidates report all e-mail addresses and web
pages to the Campaign Spending Commission.  Other technical,
nonsubstantive amendments were made to conform to drafting
conventions.  

     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

 
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                                 Page 3

 
purpose of H.B. No. 1984, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
1984, 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,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair