STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1771

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 727

        H.D. 1

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FUNDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Repeal the allowance for a ballot issue committee to donate surplus funds to a community service, educational, youth, recreational, charitable, scientific, or literary organizations; and

 

     (2)  Repeal the allowance for a candidate, treasure, or candidate committee to use campaign funds to purchase up to two tickets for an event or fundraiser held by another candidate or committee.  

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission, Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct, Pono Hawaii Initiative, and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that the practice of purchasing tickets for an event or fundraiser held by another candidate or committee is commonplace amongst legislators.  However, candidates or candidate committees should not have a disproportionate influence on the outcome of other candidates' elections.  On the other hand, since some members of political parties have greater access to fundraising than other party members, it makes sense to allow some amount of financial assistance from one candidate to another.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding language that allows a candidate committee to make contributions to another candidate in an amount of not more than $2,000 per election period; and

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 727, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair