HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	722
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO CANDIDATE COMMITTEE AND NONCANDIDATE COMMITTEE FUNDRAISERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the house of representatives adopted House Resolution No. 9 (2022) to establish the commission to improve standards of conduct. The resolution requests the commission ensure state laws and rules relating to standards of conduct of public officers and employees contain clear standards, enforcement, and penalties and provide recommendations to increase awareness of, compliance with, and deterrent effects of the code of ethics, lobbying laws, campaign finance laws, and other relevant laws and rules.

Pursuant to House Resolution No. 9, the commission to improve standards of conduct convened regularly throughout 2022 to diligently review, discuss, and consider the issues presented, submitted an interim report to the house of representatives outlining areas of immediate and long-term focus, then continued its work with input from the public and invited individuals and agencies to issue a final report with various recommendations and accompanying proposed legislation.

The legislature also finds that the strength and stability of our democratic government rely upon the public's trust in government institutions, including the expectation that officers act ethically with prudence, integrity, and sound judgement. Therefore, an essential goal of the commission was to provide recommendations that would help restore public trust in state government and increase the level of transparency in its operations and accountability of individuals.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to implement recommendations of the commission to improve standards of conduct in furthering public transparency and improving public confidence in campaign financing by amending what constitutes a fundraiser under Hawaii's election law and thereby requiring a notice of intent to hold a fundraiser regardless of the price or suggested contribution for attending the function.

SECTION 2. Section 11-342, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

"(d) As used in this section:

"Elected official" means an individual who currently holds an elected state or county office, including the governor, lieutenant governor, state senator, state representative, trustee of the office of Hawaiian affairs, county mayor, county council member, county prosecuting attorney, and any individual appointed to serve in any of the aforementioned offices.

"Fundraiser" means any function held for the benefit of a candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate committee that is intended or designed, directly or indirectly, to raise contributions for which [the] any price is charged or [suggested] any contribution is suggested for attending the function [is more than $25 per person].

"Fundraiser event" means any function held for the benefit of an elected official that is intended or designed, directly or indirectly, to raise contributions for which any price is charged or any contribution is suggested for attending the function."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct; Campaign Fundraising; Fundraiser

Description:

Amends the definition of "fundraiser" under the election law relating to the notice of intent for fundraisers and fundraising events.

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