Report Title:

Election Offenses; Penalties; Enforcement

Description:

Authorizes the attorney general to enforce the election laws and any administrative rules of the office of elections.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2560

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to election offenses.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the attorney general is responsible for the enforcement of the election laws of the State. In addition to these laws, the office of elections has adopted five chapters of administrative rules to implement provisions of the elections statutes.

However, these administrative rules on elections are unenforceable, because neither the attorney general nor any other agency has the legal power to bring enforcement action against a violator of these rules.

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the attorney general to enforce the election laws and any administrative rules of the office of elections.

SECTION 2. Chapter 19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§19-    Prosecution. (a) The department of the attorney general may prosecute cases involving any violation of this chapter or of administrative rules adopted under this chapter.

(b) The court shall give priority to the expeditious processing of any case brought pursuant to this section."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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