STAND. COM. REP. NO. 453-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 124

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 124 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Chief Election Officer to develop and distribute a voter information guide for all candidates running for state office, including trustee candidates of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Green Party of Hawai‘i, Community Alliance on Prisons, Common Cause Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, Young Progressives Demanding Action, and twelve individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Elections.

Your Committee finds that several other states publish official voter guides. This measure would promote a more informed electorate and may increase voter participation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation amount for the Office of Elections to develop and distribute the voter information guide;

(2) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2222, to encourage further discussion;

(3) Inserting a sunset date of March 1, 2024; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 124, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 124, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair