STAND. COM. REP. NO. 796

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 337

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 337, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the language and meaning of any proposed constitutional amendment and ratification question to be simple, concise, and direct to the extent practicable;

(2) Allow the presiding officers of the Legislature to request a written opinion of the Supreme Court regarding the legality of a proposed amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution and the corresponding constitutional ratification question;

(3) Require the Court to provide a written opinion within forty-eight hours of receipt of the request;

(4) Require, for any written opinion by the Court that invalidates a constitutional ratification question, a detailed and specific explanation of the reasons for this opinion; and

(5) Prohibit any appeal of a written opinion.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 337, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair