STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1902

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 94

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 94, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that candidates placed on the Hawaii ballot for the United States President and Vice President publicly release their income tax returns.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires candidates for President or Vice President of the United States to post their most recent federal income tax return on the Internet for free public access in order for their names to appear on a general election ballot; and

(2) Prohibits Electoral College electors from voting for candidates for President or Vice President if those candidates have not posted their most recent federal income tax return.

The O‘ahu County Democrats, Common Cause Hawaii, LGBT Caucus and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and an individual testified in support of this measure. The Honolulu County Republican Party and a few individuals testified in opposition to this measure. The Department of the Attorney General, Department of Taxation, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

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 S.B. No. 94, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair