STAND. COM. REP. NO. 659-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2072

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2072 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require certain campaign solicitations that reference disasters to include a disclosure that contains certain specific information.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Campaign Spending Commission. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that transparency in the solicitation of funds for disaster relief efforts is critical to ensure accountability and trust. When individuals generously donate money to assist disaster victims, they expect their contributions to directly aid those affected. Requiring certain solicitations that reference disasters to include a disclosure that protects donors from exploitation and fosters greater confidence in relief initiatives.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that candidates, candidate committees, and noncandidate committees shall not solicit campaign contributions that reference disasters unless the solicitation includes a disclosure as required by this measure;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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. 2072, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2072, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair