STAND. COM. REP. NO. 901

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1005

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1005, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and make certain administrative changes for presidential preference primaries.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawaii and six individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Elections; the Office of the County Clerk, County of Hawaii; Office of the County Clerk, County of Kauai; Office of the City Clerk, City and County of Honolulu; and Office of the County Clerk, County of Maui.

Your Committee finds that state-run caucuses to choose presidential nominees reach a limited scope of people. Your Committee believes that presidential preference primaries, as proposed by this measure, will facilitate public participation in choosing candidates for this important federal office.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language for a new discounted filing fee for presidential candidates' verified participation in the State's partial public financing program, as the program is only for qualifying candidates for state and county elected offices;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1005, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1005, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair