STAND. COM. REP. NO. 30
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 467
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 S.B. No. 467 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose an amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution to allow the Legislature to enact laws establishing limitations on moneys expended by any independent expenditure committee to influence the outcome of a state election.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission.
Your Committee finds that large political action committees can spend large amounts of money to effect the outcome of a state election. Your Committee further finds that due to the structure and considerable financial resources of these organizations, their spending on state elections should be limited. This measure will curb the spending of noncandidate committees that do not have contribution and expenditure limits.
Your
Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Specifying
that this measure proposes an amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution to
allow the State to limit moneys expended by any noncandidate committee making
only independent expenditures to influence the outcome of a state election;
(2) Specifying
that the question on the ballot be "Shall the Hawaii State Constitution be
amended to allow the Legislature to enact laws establishing limitations on
moneys expended by any noncandidate committee making only independent
expenditures to influence the outcome of a state election?"; and
(3) Making
technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and
consistency.
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. 467, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 467, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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