STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1208-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2983

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2983, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to regulate charitable fundraising platforms and activities of platform charities during declared federal disasters.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that this measure will prevent any deception, confusion, or misunderstanding that may arise from the use of charitable fundraising platforms and activities of platform charities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adopting the amendments provided by the Department of the Attorney General that:

(A) Regulates charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities under existing Hawaii laws;

(B) Expands applicability to include the regulation of charitable fundraising on internet platforms at all times, not only when a federal disaster is declared; and

(C) Delays implementation until January 1, 2026, to allow sufficient time for the Department of the Attorney General to make necessary changes;

(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 S.B. No. 2983, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2983, S.D. 2, 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,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair