STAND. COM. REP. NO. 657

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1063

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 1063 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the governor, in filling vacancies to the state senate, state house of representatives, and United States Senate, to select from a list of three prospective appointees nominated by the political party of the prior incumbent.  This measure also requires prospective appointees to be registered members of nominating political parties at the time their names are submitted to the governor.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawaii, the O`ahu County Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and a concerned individual.  The Governor testified in opposition to this measure. 

 

     Your Committee finds that a procedure that guarantees that vacancies are filled in a fair and timely manner is essential to the integrity of the legislative process.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by restructuring the amendments to section 17-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes in section 2 of this bill by setting out new language in new subsections rather than incorporating by reference the new language in section 17-3(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1063, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1063, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair