HONOLULU, HAWAII – The House of Representatives today unanimously (51-0) passed an amendment to HB2003, HD3, Relating to Campaign Financing.
The bill primarily updates, organizes and clarifies current campaign finance law based on the recommendations of the Campaign Spending Commission’s blue-ribbon re-codification committee.
“I have worked for several years to improve the campaign finance laws in Hawaii, and I’m pleased that this bill is moving forward in 2010,” said Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. “While the proposed legislation is a work in progress, it demonstrates the strong desire of the House to establish greater fairness, balance and transparency in the campaign laws of the state.”
The amendment today addressed three specific areas of concern:
*The bill now proposes to prohibit anyone who enters into a contract with the State or County to make a contribution to a candidate committee or a non-candidate committee, or to any candidate for political purpose.
*The bill prohibits a person from making a contribution to a non-candidate committee in an aggregate amount greater than $1,000 in an election. This does not apply to ballot issue committees.
*The bill now clarifies the situations under which a candidate can make donations to any public school or library.
The bill takes effect on November 3, 2010, the day after the 2010 General Election, and applies to reporting periods beginning after November 2, 2010. The House will vote on the amended bill on Thursday. The bill takes effect on November 3, 2010
“I’m very proud of the work of Chair Karamatsu and the Judiciary Committee,” said Speaker of the House Calvin Say. “The committee worked diligently to meet the needs of the Campaign Spending Commission, and to re-codify a law that is better organized and easier to understand for everyone concerned. The result is greater transparency for the public.”
‘Thelma Mary Dreyer is the Assistant Communications Director for the House of Representatives – State of Hawaii’